NEW YEAR - MORE NHS CUTS

Hammersmith and Fulham has to make £44 million cuts in health spending

Health campaigners are demanding to know exactly what will be cut and when

The CCG buys in the health care needed in Hammersmith and Fulham but campaigners fear many services will have to be cut (Image: BrianAJackson / Getty Images)

One of management groups that buys in health care for people across huge areas of West London is going to have to make savings of some £44 million, but won't yet tell people what services are to be cut.

Health campaigners have pledged to keep asking for more details about the "eye-watering" savings Hammersmith and Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group is facing over the next two years.

Merril Hammer from health group Save Our Hospitals, has demanded the CCG open up and share information about ways it will save money.

She told its governing body meeting "to date there have been no detailed reports on what  savings have been made in the current financial year and on what services have been affected in what way?"

She asked when the public will be consulted about the proposed £17m savings the CCG needs to make this financial year and the further £27m in 2019/20.

Janet Cree, the CCG’s managing director said there are plans to  "engage" with the public on January 29.

Paul Brown, the chief financial officer of North West London CCGs said it has to consult on proposals such as closing the Hammersmith urgent care centre which could save £359,000 a year.

He said there were also contracts which are still running, but will be examined.

But Councillor Lucy Richardson, who chairs the council’s health, inclusion and social chair public accounts committee is also pressing for more detail.

She said residents are concerned that services could be downgraded as the CCG has been asked by health NHS England bosses to make "eye-watering" savings of £44m by 2020.

The board meeting was told that there were a range of possibilities, but the “mostly likely position is a total system deficit of £17m and most likely Hammersmith and Fulham will be adrift by £10m,” said Mr Brown.

Demand for the CCG’s services are also 10% higher than its contract.

He said: "We know it’s a challenge, but we keep on working on this problem."

But Ms Hammer said: "People need specifics."

Health campaigner Anne Drinkell also asked how many job losses were likely as the CCG looks to save money.

Chief officer Mark Easton  for the group of CCGs said: “We do not anticipate a specific number of redundancies.”

He said there were a large number of vacancies and it the CCGs have already made savings by collaborating on some staff costs and half the accountable officers for the area.

He said savings will be looking “at reductions in growth”.

He told the LDR service “often these are about alternatives and cheaper options".

https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/hammersmith-fulham-make-44-million-15695596