STP conversations – the view from people of South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw

They were chance to consider and talk about the STP at a very early stage. Local Healthwatch and Voluntary Action organisations were asked to carry out the conversations and they spoke with a of 872 people across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, of which 257 were in Sheffield,. The findings of all the conversations across the region have been pulled into a STP Conversations Summary Report May 2017. Publication of the report was delayed because of the general election.

The STP starts from a position that current health and social care provision needs to change and suggests a vision and set of priorities to underpin planning what happens next. It recognises that while there have been some big improvements in health and social care over the last 15 years, people’s needs have changed, new treatments are emerging and the current quality of care is variable and preventable illness remains widespread. It also estimates a funding gap of around £571 million if services continue to work in the way they are doing now.

The STP conversations showed that awareness and understanding of the STP and local place plans is low. Many people were reluctant to get involved initially but once they understood the context and aims of the conversations were much more willing and happy to engage.  What became clear was that people want to know what happens next, what’s the detail of how services will change and how will it be paid for.