Consultation Document and FAQs

Hospital Outpatient Services at Shopping City

May 2021 and appropriate services – either those and Halton Teaching that require additional space or those Hospitals are creating a new Health that are relocating from Warrington. Hub at nearby Runcorn Shopping City. This is in line with the Trust’s plan of From this hub the Trust is planning to expanding and further developing offer Ophthalmology, Audiology, and Halton as its dedicated elective site – Dietetics outpatient appointments. much of which is already underway as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In March 2021 we sought views from No estate will be lost or patients, partners and the public on decommissioned at Halton Hospital. proposals to offer these services in a retail environment. Thank you to everyone who responded and gave feedback. We have taken your feedback on board in our ongoing discussions and have updated the information in this consultation document to address the key themes.

Offering these services in a retail environment will make it easier for patients to access these services, some of which will be expanded to offer a greater range of tests. Halton residents will no longer have to travel out of Borough to receive care.

As well as being more convenient for patients, the proposed move reduces the risk of having to enter a hospital environment during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This is especially important for patients of BAME origin, the vulnerable and those with long term conditions.

Audiology and Ophthalmology are moving just 300 meters from Halton We are consulting on: Hospital’s outpatients department to Shopping City, while Dietetics is moving from St Paul’s Health Centre - Proposals for Hospital a distance of 3.5km served by public transport. Current staff will relocate with their services and there will be no Outpatient Services at change to staffing levels.

The vacated space at Halton Hospital Runcorn Shopping City will be reallocated to clinically Services that are proposed to be delivered Proposed service relocation – FAQs from the new location

1 What are you asking people to consider as part of this consultation? Services What We Provide We are asking local people to provide their views on a proposal to provide a small number of hospital outpatient appointments/services from the • Ophthalmology’s proposed initial plan is to move services Health Hub at Runcorn Shopping City. These are services that are already currently being delivered at Halton Hospital to Runcorn provided in Halton. Shopping City. This includes Paediatric Orthoptic and Optometry clinics and Paediatric Visual Processing clinics. 2 Which services will be provided from the Health Hub? • This plan also includes replicating some services that are currently delivered only at Warrington Hospital at Runcorn Ophthalmology, Audiology and Dietetics. These services are currently Shopping City. These include: Glaucoma assessment clinics, provided from the Halton Hospital site. cataract pre-and post-operative clinics, ophthalmic primary Ophthalmology care clinics (new patients only) and neuro-ophthalmology 3 How far will services be moving? clinics. The distance between Halton Hospital and Runcorn Shopping City is • There are also plans to introduce a new Hydroxychloroquine around 300 metres from the rear of the hospital to the entrance to screening service not currently provided by the Trust at Runcorn Shopping City. Some Dietetics services are planned to move from Runcorn Shopping City. This new service is currently being St Paul’s Health Centre to Runcorn Shopping City, which is a distance of developed in order to screen rheumatology patients to around 3.5km and is served by public transport. No services will be moved ensure their suitability for hydroxychloroquine treatment, from Warrington Hospital. However, some services currently only provided and to routinely monitor those patients currently on the in Warrington will be replicated in Halton as part of the plans. treatment for any visual complications.

• Audiology plans an expansion of current services that are 4 Why are you proposing to run NHS services within a non- currently offered (and would continue to be offered) at NHS setting? Halton Hospital. This will allow more patients to be seen The aim of this move is to support and increase access to some diagnostic each week. The planned services for potential provision Audiology and outpatient services in a more convenient location for our patients. within Shopping City include assessment, fitting and repair There is a planned and strategic direction for the NHS, as set out in NHS of hearing aids. This will help to reduce waits for these appointments and enabling provision in a potentially more Long Term Plan and reflected within the One Halton Health and Wellbeing convenient location. Strategy, of improving access and delivering services within the community. In addition we believe there will be a number of benefits from providing services from Runcorn Shopping City, including:

• Dietetics’ initial proposed plan is to consolidate clinics that • An additional 3,000 appointments, at least, will be available with a are currently held at both Halton General Hospital and St potential reduction in waiting times as a result. Paul’s Health Centre and deliver these instead at Runcorn • Expanded and easier access for patients and their families to these Dietetics Shopping City. This includes two general paediatric clinics services and five general adult clinics per week. This consolidation will provide a consistent and more accessible base for this • Expansion and/or relocation of these services to be delivered in a non- service. hospital setting limits the risk of hospital-acquired infection, critical in the Covid-era • Encourages footfall to town centre spaces, promoting local business 5 Will delivering services from Runcorn Shopping City stop Will the unit be clearly signposted for patients? services being delivered from other locations? 10 We will work with partners at Runcorn Shopping City and Halton Borough In the case of Dietetics and Ophthalmology, it is proposed that the Health Council to ensure that signage is clear and appropriate to direct patients Hub at Runcorn Shopping City becomes the sole location to access and visitors from within Shopping City to the unit, and from the hospital to services within Runcorn. the unit. For Ophthalmology this will allow us to expand the services currently delivered in Runcorn, duplicating some services that patients currently 11 How will you ensure my privacy and information is have to travel to Warrington Hospital to access. protected when attending appointments at Shopping City? For Audiology, this will be an expansion of the current hearing aid assessment service. The current level of provision will continue to be In response to concerns about privacy of those attending health delivered from Halton Hospital. Services at Warrington Hospital are appointments we are working with our design team to look at options unaffected by these proposals. including frosted glass on windows to protect the privacy and information of patients. 6 Is this move due to privatisation of some form? Will local people and staff be involved in the design of any No. The NHS, and NHS staff, will continue to run and manage these 13 services. It is a proposed change in location and service expansion. new facility?

Project funding for the creation of an appropriate clinical space at Runcorn Staff have already been involved with the development of this concept Shopping City has been secured through City Region’s Town and will continue to input into the design and operation of any new Centres Fund and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospital’s capital facility. This is a further opportunity for the public to give their views on funding programme. the delivery of health services from Runcorn Shopping City. An earlier engagement exercise received more than 300 responses which have been reviewed and considered in the ongoing development of these plans. This Will different staff be providing these services? public consultation is a further opportunity for patients, partners and the 7 public to give us their views on how we operate these services, if they No. The provision of services will be carried out by the same staff and no proceed as planned. staff numbers will be reduced as part of these changes. It is a change of location and service expansion. 12 How can I get Involved? A paper and online questionnaire (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/ 8 Will the frequency of services and clinics be reduced? r/3BHV67V) has been produced which will provide members of the public with an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback on the changes, No. The frequency of services and clinics will not be impacted by these ask questions and make suggestions of their own. Alternative formats are changes. It is just a change of location. These proposals would create available on request. more than 2,500 additional ophthalmology appointments and an extra 600 hearing assessment appointments each year in Halton. Virtual presentations (times to be announced) will be delivered by each of the three services on their plans, with a Q&A session for the public. Live consultation exercises (within social distancing and safety measures) 9 Would transport be provided to Runcorn Shopping City? will be conducted at Runcorn Shopping City. Additional consultation will be undertaken at the respective clinics with current patients. We will also Existing public transport links and free parking are already provided at attend other forums if you contact us using the details at the back of this Runcorn Shopping City. The unit is less than 50 yards from Car Park 3. document.

The views and opinions collected will then be used to shape the plans. Phase 2 - Consultation Questions Q5 - If I needed Ophthalmology (eye assessment and treatment) services I would prefer to go to:

a. Current location at the hospital Your Views: Hospital Outpatient Services at Runcorn b. Runcorn Shopping City Health Hub Shopping City c. Any of these You can also take part in our survey online at https://www.surveymonkey. d. None of these (please explain…) co.uk/r/3BHV67V

We welcome your views on the proposed delivery of these services from the Health Hub at Runcorn Shopping City. Q6 - If I needed Audiology (ear / hearing assessment and treatment) services I would prefer to go to: Other formats - If you have any concerns or questions about the survey, require the questionnaire in another language or format, including large a. Current location at the hospital print, Braille, audio or British Sign Language, or simply require assistance in completing the form please email [email protected] b. Runcorn Shopping City Health Hub c. Any of these Q1 - Have you used any of the following services provided by the Trust: d. None of these (please explain…)

a. Audiology (if yes state location) b. Ophthalmology (if yes state location) Q7 - If I required Dietetics services I would prefer to go to: c. Dietetics (if yes state location) a. Current location at the hospital Q2 - Have you been made aware of the proposal to relocate/expand some services b. Runcorn Shopping City Health Hub to the Health Hub at Runcorn Shopping City? c. St Paul’s Health Centre Yes No I don’t know d. Any of these

Q3 - Do you feel that you have been given enough information to form an opinion on e. None of these (please explain…) our proposals?

Yes No I don’t know

If no, what else would you like to know? Q8 - If we were to relocate any or all of these services to Runcorn Shopping City Health Hub please could you tell us how this would affect you or your family/loved ones

Q4 - Do you support the relocation to or provision of additional hospital services at the Health Hub at Runcorn Shopping City? Q9 - Is there anything else you would like us to consider? Yes No Somewhat I don’t know TEAR HERE TEAR HERE Q10 - Do you have any reasonable adjustments that you would like us to make if we Q6 - What is your religion or belief? were to relocate to Runcorn Shopping City Health Hub?

Christianity Hinduism Judaism Buddhism Sikhism Islam Prefer not to say Other (please specify) About You The following section is about you and will enable us to ensure we have Q7 - What is your sexual orientation engaged a wide range of people. You do not have to complete the following section and this information will only be used to theme the responses. Heterosexual (people of the opposite sex) Gay (both men) Lesbian (both female) Bisexual (people of either sex)

Q1 - Are you completing the survey as an individual or Third Sector organisation? Prefer not to say Other (please specify)

Individual Third Sector Organisation Q8 - What is your relationship status?

Q2 - What is your age? Single, Never Married Married Separated Divorced Widowed Civil Partnership Prefer not to say Other (please specify) Under 16 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85 or over Q9 - We need to know we’ve spoken to women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. Please tick below if you:

Q3 - What is your ethnicity? are pregnant at this time have recently given birth? (within 26 weeks)

White British White Irish White European Indian Pakistani Q10 - Do you consider yourself to have a disability (The Equality Act 2010 states a Bangladeshi Any other Asian background White and Black Caribbean person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment which is long term (12 month period or longer) or has substantial adverse effects on their ability to White and Black African White and Asian Any other mixed background carry out day to day activities)?

Caribbean African Any other Black background Chinese Yes No Please state if yes I do not wish to disclose my ethnic origin Q11 - Carers play a crucial role in health and social care. We need to know we’ve gathered the views of carers. Please tell us if you care for someone and how old they are. Q4 - What is your gender I am not a carer for anyone Male Female Other Prefer not to say I care for a young person/s aged younger than 24 years of age I care for an adult/s aged 25 to 49 years of age Q5 - Do you identify as the same gender you were assigned at birth? I care for an older person/s aged 50 years of age or older

Yes No Prefer not to say Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. TEAR HERE TEAR HERE Contact us: Communications and Engagement Team Kendrick Wing Warrington and Halton Hospitals Lovely Lane, WA5 1QG

01925 664222 [email protected] www.whh.nhs.uk

If you would like to receive this document in another format, please do not hesitate to contact us.

For review April 2023