The six CCGs* in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are seeking views from patients across five service areas. Altogether the six CCGs commission offer over 800 different services and treatments, but availability of these varies across the area. Together they have been spending around £2 million more per week than they receive, and that means some difficult decisions now need to be made.
That is why they are now asking people for their experiences of five different treatments for which access is different across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The CCGs say they want to understand the real impact these treatments have on people’s lives before deciding how they should be provided across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in the future.
The five areas are:
The CCGs say they want to listen to the view of patients to understand the impact these treatments have on their lives and are encouraging people to take part in the engagement activity to share their experiences.
The British Academy of Audiology is engaging with its partners in the Hearing Loss and Deafness Alliance to play a helpful part in supporting and amplifying some of the actions being taken locally by patient, professional and sector groups and helping a co-ordinated response across the sector. Any response will be evidence-based and constructive. BAA Board will also write to the CCGs about this engagement exercise.
* The 6 CCGs are:
Cannock Chase Clinical Commissioning Group
East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group
North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group
South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group
Stafford and Surrounds Clinical Commissioning Group
Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Group