7^th September 2011

STATEMENT

A spokesperson for the Birmingham and Solihull NHS Cluster, said: "We are still reviewing options and we are in dialogue with both the Practice PLC and Vitality to ensure the best quality primary care services are available for all patients concerned, this includes access to GP services.

“Before a decision can be made about any suggested alternative premises, a full and comprehensive assessment would need to be carried out which would look at a number of criteria to assess the impact on patients, the services that could be offered and overall affordability.

“We have and will continue to listen to the concerns of patients and the public and would encourage anyone with concerns to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0121 255 0707.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Birmingham and Solihull NHS Cluster comprises Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, NHS South Birmingham, NHS Birmingham East and North, and Solihull Primary Care Trust.
 

The cluster has been entrusted by each of the four PCTs to lead the local NHS, receiving over £2.3 billion per year to commission and provide health care for 1.3 million people across the city and borough. Our vision is to strengthen commissioning, improve quality and assure safety, tackle health inequalities and make best use of precious NHS resources.
 

While PCTs will retain their Boards and statutory responsibilities, the cluster has appointed a single Chief Executive – Denise McLellan, who is the accountable officer for all four PCTs. Denise is supported by an Executive Team which comprises four directors, each of whom is leading on a specific areas of business and transformation.
 

The NHS faces unprecedented challenges in the years ahead. People are living longer, but with greater health and social care needs. People’s health prospects and expectations are improving, but through expensive drugs and technology that place an additional burden on our limited resources. Coming together in this way provides the best opportunity to tackle the challenges ahead and create a financially sustainable legacy for our clinical commissioning colleagues to whom we handover the role of commissioning in 2013. We have set out how we will do this in our blueprint for health and care across Birmingham and Solihull – the System Plan.

Until then, we will be uniting with patients, clinicians and a wide range of diverse organisations across the region to help us get the best in care and quality of life for all.