Sustainability and transformation plans, incorporating the Better Health Programme

Healthwatch County Durham undertook research on public engagement activities relating to the Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) and Better Health Programme proposals for health and care services across County Durham. Healthwatch attended 15 public engagement events between May 2016 and February 2017, acting as an independent observer to gather feedback on how local people viewed the proposed changes. Attendance at individual events was often low, with some meetings attracting as few as six people, and Healthwatch noted that many attendees were over 50 and that some individuals attended multiple events. 

The research found widespread concern about proposed changes to local health services, particularly around access to GP appointments, shortages of GPs and clinical staff, and the ability of community and voluntary sector services to cope with increased demand if more care moved closer to home. People were also worried about longer travel distances to access services, especially in rural areas where public transport options were limited and hospital parking costs were a concern. 

A recurring theme was that many people felt there was insufficient detail about the proposals to enable meaningful feedback, and there was uncertainty about how public views would influence decisions. Attendees wanted clearer information about local service changes, leadership and governance arrangements, ambulance services, NHS 111 improvements, and plans to recruit healthcare professionals. While concerns were common, some participants recognised the potential benefits of organisations working more closely together to improve care. 

Healthwatch concluded that future engagement should involve a broader and more representative range of people and should demonstrate more clearly how public feedback influences decisions. It recommended providing more information about proposed service changes, workforce plans, travel arrangements, voluntary sector capacity and existing initiatives that successfully deliver care closer to home.