Kings Fund 21 February 2017
- This report discusses the main challenges that lie ahead in implementing the 44 sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) and realising the opportunities they identify.
- Key findings
- STPs offer the best hope for the NHS and its partners to sustain services and transform the delivery of health and care.
- STPs are wide-reaching and propose changes in a number of areas – from prevention through to acute and specialised services.
- A high priority for many STPs is to redesign services in the community to moderate demand for hospital care.
- Proposals to reconfigure hospitals could improve quality but need to be closely scrutinised and considered on their merits.
- Proposals to reduce capacity in hospitals will only be credible if there are robust plans to provide alternatives in the community.
- Cuts in social care and public health and a lack of earmarked funds to support transformation will affect the ability of NHS organisations and their partners to implement STPs.