Public consulted on £13m NHS cuts

South Worcestershire PCT is making £13m savings

School nurses, sexual health clinics and out-of-hours GP surgeries could be cut as South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) tries to save money.

Patients and users' groups are being consulted on ideas to find £13 million savings to help NHS finances.

The PCT will agree savings by 7 June to discuss with Worcestershire County Council, which could rule that formal public consultation is needed.

Managers do not envisage compulsory redundancies, but do not rule them out.

Paul Bates, acting chief executive, said: "These ideas are still 'work in progress' but we want to discuss them at the earliest stage with key stakeholders, so that we can take their thoughts into account as we try to achieve the very difficult task of living within our budget.

"That way we can help to minimise the negative effects and explore alternative ideas."

The ideas for savings include:

• Reducing sexual health clinics and stopping the community vasectomy service.
• Fewer home visits across a range of services - including some district nursing - and concentrating them at clinics.
• Rationalising health visiting for older people.
• Concentrating school nursing on priority services.
• Reducing the number of sites providing GP out of hours service.
• Closing the day rehabilitation unit at Evesham Community Hospital.
• Closing the existing Pershore Hospital ahead of occupying the new Pershore Hospital; accommodating patients at Evesham Hospital, possibly using the day rehabilitation unit.
• Closing palliative care at Evesham Community Hospital and either moving facilities into the new Pershore Hospital, or acknowledging that beds have been commissioned at St Richard's Hospice.
• Temporarily closing Bredon Ward at Evesham Community Hospital to allow for building works.