Call for Halt to Harmful Health Authorities Merger as Plans are ‘Rammed Through’

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have called for a halt to the 'headlong rush' towards a merger of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, over fears that it could have a harmful impact on local health services in the future.

A decision to proceed with the merger was made at Tuesday's 'meeting-in-common' of the Governing Bodies for the three current CCGs, despite fears that a more remote commissioning body could leave local services less responsive to local needs and more vulnerable to cuts or closures in the future.

This major reorganisation has not been subject to a public consultation, despite the impact that a more distant body making decisions could have on local healthcare provision. However, an online survey run by the CCGs revealed that an overwhelming majority of respondents from Bedford Borough are opposed to the change.

Bedford Borough Council's Executive has also objected to the plan, however the meeting-in-common has resolved to press ahead and submit the application to NHS England to complete a formal merger by April 2021.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "The case for creating CCGs was that decisions would be made by doctors with local knowledge who would be responsive to the needs of local communities."

"Yet this merger will dilute that local knowledge at the top and reduce the CCG's responsiveness to local communities. Even worse, they are ramming through this decision in a headlong rush in the middle of a pandemic, without a consultation with the communities who will be affected.'

"Even their limited engagement has shown overwhelming opposition to the change among Bedford Borough residents. They should start listening to those concerns and halt this merger, which could be harmful to local healthcare services and facilities in the future."

A report to the meeting-in-common revealed that 291 respondents to the CCGs' online survey from Bedford Borough had opposed the merger plans, with just 91 in favour. Across the area of the proposed merger, there were more responses opposed to the merger than in favour.

The online meeting was broadcast live, however in a further limitation on public engagement, any questions had to be submitted at least a full week in advance, while public questions were scheduled for the end of the meeting, after decisions were taken.

You can read the Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group's response to the merger proposals, which were not included in the papers for the meeting, here

The agenda and reports for today's BLMK CCG Meeting-In-Common can be downloaded at https://www.blmkccg.nhs.uk/about-us/people-and-governance/our-previous-meeting-dates-and-papers/