People will get the chance to have their say on the future of healthcare in Lichfield and Burntwood at an event next month.
Healthwatch Staffordshire will discuss the latest proposals as part of a plan to cut a funding gap in services.
The deficit in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire was more than £150 million in 2015/16, a figure that does not include social care – and health bosses say this will rise to over £200 million by 2020/21 if action isn’t taken.
A panel of speakers and wider discussions on the proposals to deliver savings will take place at the Lichfield Guildhall from 4pm to 7.30pm on November 22.
Jan Sensier, chief executive of Engaging Communities Staffordshire which delivers Healthwatch, said: “The area needs to show how services and processes can be improved to make them more sustainable with the aim of creating a combined saving of £20 billion in five years.
“An initial plan for this area was submitted to NHS England in June and updated proposals, featuring details of how services may be affected by change and options for how it will happen, went in last week.
“Details of those ideas have not yet been made public and they’re far from cut and dried – they’re all open for discussion and the public events are an opportunity for residents to have an input.”
The event in Lichfield will be a chance for people to understand the pressures facing healthcare and have their say on how issues around high usage of A&E and the length of stays in hospital can be tackled.
Ms Sensier added: “Public engagement on health services is vitally important and that’s why Healthwatch is involved with these events – we want people to hear more about what’s happening and to give us their views.
“The final plans are still being formulated, so while we’re not yet in a stage of formal consultation, now is the time for people to get involved and influence them.
“We’ll make sure feedback is passed on as it’s a key priority for us to ensure the views of people from this area are represented.”
For more information and to book a place at the events, at which refreshments are available, visit www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk/convostaffs-stoke.
