Healthcare in North Wales is Changing Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Consultation on Healthcare Services Assessing the Evidence: Executive Summary Opinion Research Services January 2013 Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Healthcare in North Wales is Changing Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Consultation on Healthcare Services Assessing the Evidence: Executive Summary by Opinion Research Services Opinion Research Services The Strand Swansea SA1 1AF 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] As with all our studies, findings from this survey are subject to Opinion Research Services’ Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract. Any press release or publication of the findings of this survey requires the advance approval of ORS. Such approval will only be refused on the grounds of inaccuracy or misrepresentation © Copyright January 2013 Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Opinion Research Services | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Consultation on Healthcare Services: Executive Summary January 2013 Contents Executive Summary and Conclusions ................................................................. 6 Public Consultation ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Need for Interpretation ......................................................................................................................... 7 Accountability........................................................................................................................................ 8 Executive Summary and Full Report ..................................................................................................... 8 Key findings: Healthcare Services Where You Live ..................................................................................... 9 Healthcare Priorities .............................................................................................................................. 9 Hospitals in our Communities ............................................................................................................... 9 Hospital ‘Hubs’ .................................................................................................................................... 10 Minor Injuries Services ........................................................................................................................ 10 X-Ray Services ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Local Services in Blaenau Ffestiniog .................................................................................................... 12 Local Services in North Denbighshire - Rhyl and Prestatyn ................................................................ 13 Local Services in Llangollen ................................................................................................................. 14 Local Services in Flint .......................................................................................................................... 15 Older People’s Mental Health ................................................................................................................... 16 Neonatal Intensive Care ............................................................................................................................ 17 Vascular Services ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Submissions ............................................................................................................................................... 20 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Selected Abstracts ............................................................................................................................... 20 Petitions..................................................................................................................................................... 25 Towards Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 26 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Reviewing the Evidence ...................................................................................................................... 26 Overall Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 27 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Healthcare Services Where You Live – the principles ......................................................................... 27 Healthcare Services Where You Live – the specific proposals ............................................................ 27 Older People’s Mental Health ............................................................................................................. 28 Neonatal Intensive Care ...................................................................................................................... 28 Vascular Services ................................................................................................................................. 28 Scope of BCUHB’s Review ................................................................................................................... 29 The Board’s Dilemmas ......................................................................................................................... 29 3 Opinion Research Services | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Consultation on Healthcare Services: Executive Summary January 2013 The ORS Project Team Project design, management Fieldwork management and reporting Kirsty Millbank Dale Hall Leanne Hurlow Jonathan Lee Kester Holmes Data analysis Kelly Lock Richard Harris David Harrison Joe Marchant Claire Thomas Hugo Marchant Hannah Champion Anna Shakeshaft Kathryn Middleton 4 Opinion Research Services | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Consultation on Healthcare Services: Executive Summary January 2013 Acknowledgements Opinion Research Services (ORS) is pleased to have worked with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) on the important consultation regarding the future of health services in North Wales, as reported here. We hope this report of the consultations will contribute to the Health Board’s thinking; and we hope the ORS contribution is been constructive and instrumental in ensuring that the views of the people of North Wales are captured and considered as part of the overall review process. We are grateful to BCUHB’s managers for their helpful and positive liaison throughout the detailed preparation and management of the consultation. ORS’ status as an independent social research organisation was respected throughout. We also thank the members of the public who took part in the consultation by a wide range of routes; participants shared their views and took a full part in the process. 5 Opinion Research Services | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Consultation on Healthcare Services: Executive Summary January 2013 Executive Summary and Conclusions Public Consultation 1. ‘Together for Health’ was published by the Minister for Health and Social Services in November 2011 to offer a five-year vision in the context of the challenges facing the health service in Wales. The document declares that Health Boards need to change to provide the very best quality of services for their population in the future. In this context, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) embarked on a major review of its services to clarify both general principles and particular proposals for changes to services. The formal consultation on the proposals ran from 20th August to 28th October, and included an extensive programme of engagement with staff, stakeholders and the public. 2. BCUHB conducted a wide range of consultation activities with staff, stakeholders and the public and it has taken all of them into account and responded to many contacts from interested parties. This report concentrates on some particularly important elements of the consultation process in order to provide an independent report and interpretation of the outcomes. The elements included in this report are: ORS activities Open Consultation Questionnaire (both on-line and paper versions) – widely distributed by BCUHB and with responses from 1,899 residents and organisations Household Survey of Residents (by post) – with responses from 683 (14%) of the 5,000 randomly selected households Eight focus groups with members of the public BCUHB activity 48 public meetings over 16 days (three sessions per day) – attended by a total of more than 1,300 people Other activities Written submissions from stakeholders Petitions. 3. As a research practice with wide-ranging experience of controversial statutory consultations across the UK, ORS is able