(2) when she expects Shropshire primary care trust to announce what measures it plans to take in order to meet its revised budget.
Formal consultation on stage 1 of the primary care trust’s (PCT) strategic service plan closed on 29 September 2006. The NHS West Midlands reports that the consultation responses were considered by the PCT board at its meeting on 24 October 2006 and the following proposals were supported:
the implementation of the existing plan to transfer the Bishops Castle Community Hospital site to the not-for-profit organization, Coverage Care, in 2007-08. This is subject to resolution of the financial impairment issue relating to the building;
the closure of Whitcliffe mental health ward, at Ludlow Hospital;
the deferral of the proposals for general inpatient services on Clee Ward at Ludlow Hospital until June 2007 to enable the PCT to work with South Shropshire district council and others to evaluate their alternative vision for the community hospital;
the reorganisation of district nursing and health visiting services; and
the closure of six beds at Whitchurch Hospital.
Consultation is under way with staff on Whitcliffe Ward, Ludlow, and it is hoped that staff will be found suitable alternative employment.
Shropshire County PCT and Telford and Wrekin PCT are currently undertaking the second phase of the formal consultation on the strategic service plan which is due to close on 27 November 2006. This relates to the configuration of services between the two acute hospitals, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital. This will include children’s services and urology services. We would expect announcements to be made once the PCTs have considered the responses received following the consultation exercise.