Stop the STP mass cuts to our local NHS and social care services

The regional Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) is a largely hidden, high-level plan to hurriedly bring about the integration of health and social care, with a central role given to private providers. It is motivated more by hope than any real understanding of need and with no consultation with professionals and the public.

- From the extreme level of “savings” outlined in both the STP and the part of the plan focused on mid-Sussex & East Surrey it is clear that the key objective is to reduce costs regardless of consequence.

- In illustration of this, the amount our region (STP footprint 33) is being asked to save by 2020/21 is a staggering £653 million.

- “Savings” already specified in the STP report include £112m on social care

- £47.4m to be saved by encouraging GPs not to refer people to hospital

- These plans nationally will put the final nail in the coffin of a comprehensive NHS and locally will have an irrevocably damaging impact on the health of city residents.

- Local authorities round England are now protesting about STP and refusing to sign up. One local authority has initiated legal action.

As citizens of Brighton & Hove we ask that the HOSC, with its role of overseeing and scrutinising our local health services, act urgently. We urge you as our elected representatives to:

- Pass a motion of opposition to STP
- Set up a review panel to call witnesses to account for all aspects of the STP and the Place-based Delivery Plan so an informed decision can be made by the whole council.
- Initiate a full public consultation on the final detailed plan before any decisions are made to ratify it

1. https://www.coastalwestsussexccg.nhs.uk/building-first-class-health-and-care-system-for-sussex-and-east-surrey
2. Google 'Central Sussex and East Surrey Place-based Delivery Plan' for the PDF figures, page 16
3. For more general information and a detailed STP flyer- http://defendthenhssussex.weebly.com/