Last week the Trust invited representatives from the ‘Hands Off HRI’ and ‘999 call for the NHS’ campaign groups to a meeting to discuss the next steps for the proposed reconfiguration of hospital services.

The campaigners met with our Chair Philip Lewer, CEO Owen Williams and Director of Transformation and Partnerships Anna Basford in Trust HQ at HRI.

During the meeting the Progress Report** recently submitted by the Trust and CCGs to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was discussed and Campaigners raised questions across a range of topics such as:

* what   services will be provided on the HRI site?

* are staff able to voice their views and concerns?

* what are the timescales for communications for future developments

*what will be the future bed numbers

* what role will digital technology have in the future

The full minutes of the meeting are attached (here) and copy of the Progress Report sent to  the Secretary of State is available (here).

After the meeting campaigners were given a tour of the lower floors at HRI so that they could see the condition of the building (which was opened in the 1960s). This provided   opportunity for campaigners to raise questions and discuss the challenges the Trust faces in maintaining the estate.

Owen, said: “ We will continue to involve and work closely with staff, stakeholders and members of the public as we develop plans for the way we deliver health care in the future. Campaign Groups are very much part of this and we welcome opportunity for further dialogue and discussion. in the coming months.”

After the meeting  Hands off HRI posted to their followers: “As you can imagine the questions were meaty and hoped to confirm some of the details that Scrutiny couldn’t answer. We also got a grand tour.”

** The Progress report will be the main item at tomorrow’s Joint Health Scrutiny Committee.