Vascular Surgery Services

The Acting Chair of the Portsmouth LINk, Terry Carter, has posted an article summarising the current position regarding Vascular Surgery Services in Portsmouth. The article is published under the “View from the Chair” banner (left).

Vascular Surgery Services

The issue surrounding the proposals for the provision of Vascular Surgery Services for the South Coast conurbations is poised to enter a new phase after Christmas with the development of plans for public consultation by the SHIP PCT Cluster.

While consultation was inevitable throughout the recent debates the context has recently changed firstly by the endorsement of the “Brighton option” by the West Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel and the West Sussex LINk, and secondly, by the development of proposals from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust to create a vascular centre in Portsmouth capable of serving the population of Portsmouth, South East Hampshire and a small number of patients from Chichester.

As both engagement and consultation is of central importance to Local Involvement Networks this important consultation will play a part in the work of the LINk during the early months of 2012.

Portsea Action Group expresses concern over proposals for Vascular Surgery Services

On the 07/09/2011 the Portsmouth LINk delivered a short presentation about its purpose to the Portsea Action Group (PAG). The presentation was well received and there are plans to maintain contact with this important community group. During the presentation the overwhelming majority of the group expressed concern over the proposed plans for Vascular Surgery Services in the Portsmouth area. PAG were informed that the concerns they had expressed would be put to the LINk Steering Group. Since the presentation the LINk Steering Group have been briefed about PAG's concern and have agreed to include Vascular Surgery Services as an item to be prioritsed in the forthcoming prioritisation of LINk work stream issues. This means that should Vascular Surgery Services be placed at the top of the LINk's list of priorities the LINk will be conducting a structured community engagement programme to consolidate the information from PAG and the other groups who are concerned about this issue.

Three options for Vascular Surgery

The local debate about Vascular Surgery has been further enriched by a Letter written by the Chief Executive of the SHIP PCT Cluster, Mrs Debbie Fleming. The Letter provides an outline of three options being explored to meet required standards. Please click on the following hyperlink to read the Letter by Mrs Fleming View Letter written by Mrs Fleming.

Vascular Surgery Services

Members of the Portsmouth LINk met with Penny Mordaunt MP to discuss issues of common interest to do with health and social care service provision in the Portsmouth area. Although the main reason for this meeting was to talk about the possible removal to Southampton of vascular surgeons from QAH, a number of other health and social care subjects were covered.