To date there have been 19 referrals by overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) to the Secretary of State and are as follows:
1. Wiltshire OSC: Closure of maternity services at two community hospitals
Referred: October 2004.
Outcome: Proposals withdrawn by primary care trust (PCT) in favour of wide-ranging review of community services.
2. Hampshire OSC: Configuration of health services in south-east Hampshire
Referred: January 2005.
Outcome: Ministerial decision to support local national health service without referral to independent reconfiguration panel (IRP).
3. Merton OSC: The choice of location for a new critical care hospital
Referred: March 2005.
Outcome: Ministerial decision for new hospital site at St. Helier (not Sutton as local NHS proposed). Secretary of State decision subsequently withdrawn at request of London Strategic Health Authority who are undertaking a review of the proposals.
4. South Gloucestershire council: Future location of acute hospital
Referred: July 2005.
Outcome: Ministerial decision to support local NHS without referral to IRP.
5. Wirral OSC: closure of two wards at Victoria Central hospital, Wirral
Referred: July 2005.
Outcome: Ministerial decision to support local NHS without referral to IRP.
6. Lincolnshire OSC: Lincolnshire NHS recovery plan
Referred: July 2005.
Outcome: Ministerial decision to refer case back to local NHS for it to reach local agreement with OSC.
7. Surrey OSC: proposed changes to the provision of services provided by Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust
Referred: October 2005.
Outcome: Ministers requested IRP involvement to help broker agreement between OSC and local NHS although case was not formerly referred to the IRP.
8. Cambridgeshire OSC: proposed variation in mental health services in Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire
Referred: February 2006.
Outcome: Support the local NHS without referral to the IRP.
9. Suffolk OSC: decision of Suffolk East PCT to close community hospitals, reduce the number of inpatient step down beds, and introduce an intermediate model of care
Referred: March 2006.
Outcome: Support the local NHS with the exception of proposals for Hartismere Hospital where Secretary of Secretary requested local NHS develop further the proposals.
10. Gloucestershire OSC: decision by Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust to close inpatient facilities at Fairford Community Hospital and Tetbury Community Hospital
Referred: March 2006.
Outcome: Ministerial decision to support local NHS without referral to the IRP.
11. Calderdale and Kirklees Joint OSC: Proposed changes to maternity services in Calderdale and Huddersfield
Referred: April 2006.
Outcome: Case referred to the IRP for advice. Ministerial decision to accept IRP’s advice and support the local NHS.
12. Hertfordshire Health Scrutiny Committee: Proposals for Mental Health and Learning Disability Savings by the Hertfordshire Primary Care Trusts
Referred: May 2006.
Outcome: Support the local NHS (proposal to withdraw Early Intervention Services was withdrawn by local NHS) without referral to the IRP.
13. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Health Select Committee: Review of acute services on Teesside
Referred: July 2006.
Outcome: Case referred to the IRP for advice. Secretary of State accepted the IRP’s advice which included the recommendation that until the opening of a new hospital, consultant-led maternity and paediatric services should be centralised at the University Hospitals of North Tees, not Hartlepool as proposed by the local NHS.
14. Joint OSC representing Durham County, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire County, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees: Review of acute services on Teesside
Referred: July 2006.
Outcome: Case referred to the IRP for advice. Secretary of State accepted the IRP’s advice which included the recommendation that until the opening of a new hospital, consultant-led maternity and paediatric services should be centralised at the University Hospitals of North Tees, not Hartlepool as proposed by the local NHS.
15. Baling Council Health, Housing and Adult Social services Scrutiny Panel: Referral of consultation by the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust on the future of the Nuffield Speech and Language Unit
Referred: July 2006.
Outcome: Support the local NHS without referral to the IRP.
16. Hartlepool borough council: Review of acute services on Teesside
Referred: July 2006.
Outcome: Case referred to the IRP for advice. Secretary of State accepted the IRP's advice which included the recommendation that until the opening of a new hospital, consultant-led maternity and paediatric services should be centralised at the University Hospitals of North Tees, not Hartlepool as proposed by the local NHS.
17. Lambeth and Southwark Joint OSC: Proposals to reconfigure local mental health crisis care
Referred: August 2006.
Outcome: Support the local NHS without referral to the IRP.
18. Suffolk OSC: referral of the decisions of Suffolk West PCT to close community hospitals, remove the provision of inpatient step down beds, and rush the introduction of the intermediate model of care
Referred: October 2006.
Outcome: Proposals withdrawn by local NHS.
19. Gloucestershire OSC: decision by Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust to centralise older people’s mental health inpatient services at Charlton Lane, Cheltenham
Referred: November 2006.
Outcome: To be confirmed.