Sheffield Local Involvement Network

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) are planning to move some of their services between the Royal Hallamshire (RHH) and Northern General (NGH) hospitals. These include: 

• All heart attack patients will go to NGH rather than some currently going to RHH
• All stroke patients will go to RHH to a Hyper Acute Stroke Unit being established
• Emergency, complex in-patient general surgical and gastro-intestinal surgery will also be centred at NGH
• Breast and endocrine services will be consolidated at RHH.

Responding to our concerns about what was happening, they set up a presentation for LINk members on18 May at the Northern General Hospital. Mike Richmond, Medical Director, and Chris Linacre, Director of Service Development from STH presented what was happening and why. They talked about the services that are moving and the reasons behind them which are to: 

• meet the pressures of rising patients numbers
• deliver new treatments
• modernise existing facilities.  

They also stressed the benefits to patients of having:

• standardised treatment pathways
• better availability of senior clinicians
• simplified access routes for ambulances.

There was a lively discussion on a number of topics including stroke services and patient journeys. Those attending felt that it was a helpful and informative meeting. STH has also agreed to consult with Sheffield LINk about publicising these moves before they take place in November.

Download for more information about the reconfiguration of services at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.