Sustainability and Transformations Plans (STPs) are local five-year plans, compiled by the NHS, that aim to improve health and care and address funding gaps in the NHS.
STPs have the potential to give the NHS the biggest shake-up in a generation.
However, controversy has surrounded the STP process, with concerns about the lack of public engagement and what the plans seek to achieve in a short space of time:
- According to the Kings Fund, NHS England gave “instructions… to keep details of the draft plans out of the public domain.”[2]
- The BMA found that 53 per cent of GPs and consultants in London had not even heard of STPs and 88 per cent felt unable to influence Clinical Commissioning Group decisions about STPs.[3]
In the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced an extra £2 billion for social care, but will this plug the gap and has social care been taken into account in the draft plans?
The Mayor of London has also expressed concern over the lack of transparency of STPs and has promised to “hold the NHS’s feet to the fire” to ensure open consultation with the public.[4]
The London Assembly Health Committee will tomorrow discuss how STPs are being developed and how realistic the plans are in what they set out to achieve.
In the first part of the meeting the Committee will discuss the key challenges. The guests are:
- Dr Gary Marlowe, Chair of London Regional Council, British Medical Association
- Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown, Chair of London Region, Royal College of General Practitioners
- Grainne Siggins, Member, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS)
- Amber Davenport, Head of Policy, NHS Providers
- Vivek Kotecha, Research Officer, Centre for Health & the Public Interest
- Neil Tester, Director of Policy and Communications, Healthwatch England
In the second section of the meeting STP leaders and NHS representatives will address concerns. The guests are:
- Dr Mohini Parmar, Chair, Ealing Clinical Commissioning Group and STP Lead, North West London
- Sir David Sloman, Chief Executive, Royal Free and STP Convenor, North Central London
- Jane Milligan, STP Lead, North East London STP
- Mark Easton, Programme Director, South East London STP
- Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive of Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals Trust, on behalf of the South West London STP
- Steve Russell, Executive Regional Managing Director (London), NHS Improvement
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 15 March at 10:00am in The Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend. The meeting can also be viewed via webcast.
Follow us @LondonAssembly and take part in the discussion using #AssemblyHealth and #STPs.
Notes to editors
- Full agenda papers
- Sustainability and Transformation Plans in the NHS: How are they being developed in practice?, King’s Fund, November 2016
- Half of London's doctors haven't heard of STPs, survey finds
- Mayor Sadiq Khan’s comments at Mayor’s Question Time, 20 December 2016.
- Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
- London Assembly Health Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Lam on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.