Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government has taken to consult people resident in Leicester on the proposed changes to Leicester General Hospital.

The pre-consultation business case on the proposed reconfiguration of three hospitals in Leicester, including Leicester General Hospital, requires approval at a local, regional and national level prior to the commencement of formal public consultation. It is anticipated that this process will soon be completed. Subject to this, a consultation will follow.

In January 2020 the three Clinical Commissioning Groups set out a plan to consult the public. Regular discussions have taken place with the local authorities, councillors and the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees throughout the development of the proposals. Engagement with the public has also been ongoing. This work has enabled the proposals to be refined and developed taking on board the feedback from the local population.

Leicester’s Hospitals are currently undertaking a transformation of Intensive Care Services, which includes moving the Level 3 Intensive Care Unit and associated services from the Leicester General Hospital to the Leicester Royal Infirmary and Glenfield Hospitals. As part of the complex service moves between sites, there will be a temporary split of nephrology and transplant services between the Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital. It is not anticipated that there will be any resulting effect on, or risk for hepatobiliary patients, who are cared for under a different clinical service.