CONFUSION surrounds the status of the group that purchases health services on behalf of people in Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne and NHS campaigners think the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been placed in special measures.

But the CCG that was until recently led by former Ludlow GP Dr Caron Morton say this is not the case but confirm a ‘turnaround team’ and specialist help has been brought in.

“Like many other NHS organisations Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is facing increasing financial pressures through continually increasing demand for local NHS services - the CCG is currently forecasting an in-year deficit of £10.6m,” the CCG said in a statement.

“As a result, it has been working with NHS England over several months to develop plans that will help it improve its financial position and ultimately return the organisation to financial stability.

“The recent work the CCG has been completing with NHS England has identified the need for some specialist support, and as such, the organisation has taken the decision to bring in a turnaround team to work alongside its governing body to help it to achieve a sustainable financial position.

The Ludlow-based Shropshire Defend our NHS group blames cuts in spending. While Ludlow MP Philip Dunne points his finger at the management of the Clinical Commissioning Group.

Former Ludlow GP Dr Caron Morton stepped down as accountable officer for the Clinical Commissioning Group in September.

“The ‘special measures’ ruling is about bureaucrats from NHS England coming into Shropshire to enforce deep NHS cuts. This is not in patients’ interests at all,” said Gill George, chair of the group.

“This is about £10.6 million cuts for Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, on top of the £23 million cuts in local hospital services that they demanded last month.

“Health bosses are already planning to close an A&E and one of our hospitals; already closing beds in community hospitals; already rationing hip and knee replacements, and already putting too little money into ambulance services. An extra £30 million cuts on top of these things is a disaster.

“The real problem is that there isn’t enough money coming into Shropshire’s NHS in the first place.

“Funding policy discriminates against rural areas and discriminates against areas with an older population. This means that Shropshire loses out twice.

“This needs a political solution, to end the unfair treatment of Shropshire and other counties like ours.”

Joyce Brand, another campaigner believes that the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been set up as fall guys.

“The cynics amongst us saw the introduction of the CCGs with their membership comprising mainly general practitioners as a mechanism whereby the NHS, had a scapegoat when the realities of the government’s massive ‘efficiency savings’ kicked in,” she said.

“Given the savings required from Shropshire with its already serious underfunding there was never a chance that the CCG could identify ways of making those savings whilst continuing to provide a decent level of local health services.

“I have been a vociferous critic of the CCG but the core of that criticism has been the dishonesty.

“I actually feel sorry for the fall-guys; they didn’t remember that when you sup with the devil you need a long spoon.”

But Ludlow MP Philip Dunne blamed the Clinical Commissioning Group and called for new management.

“It is disappointing that Shropshire CCG’s finances have not been sufficiently well managed and, as a result of a large anticipated annual budget deficit, it has been placed in Special Measures,” Philip Dunne said.

LUDLOW Town Council is to call a second public meeting as concerns grow over the future of the hospital in the town.

The Town Council is deeply concerned that despite comments from health chiefs Ludlow may lose its hospital as the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group seeks to address a deficit of more than £10 million.

Councillors are also concerned about the failure to reach a decision on the future of acute and Accident and Emergency care in Shropshire.

Joyce Brand of the ‘Shropshire Defend our NHS’ group spoke in the public open session at the Town Council meeting and claimed at the problem with community hospitals had resulted in 69 beds being blocked in A&E.

Town Councillor Graeme Perks said that it seemed that little had changed since there was a campaign in the town to save the existing hospital.

He said there is a need to press for ‘rural proofing’ to ensure that additional funding is available to meet the special needs that apply to providing health services in rural and isolated areas like Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Councillor Tim Gill added that he was aware of someone who had been unable to get a bed at Ludlow Hospital which he believed the evidence suggested was being prepared for closure.

The Town Council that organised a public meeting in June following the decision to close one of the wards and plans to hold a second meeting before Christmas either at the end of November or in early December.