Certain key services will remain separate as Northampton and Kettering hospitals move to ‘group model’ next year

A new management model that will see Northamptonshire’s two hospital trusts working ‘collaboratively’ will not affect certain key services.

Announced in January, the ‘group model’ will see Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital ‘making the most’ of staff and resources at both sites.

Residents made it clear that they feel it is important for both hospitals to continue to provide A&E, paediatric and maternity services.

Bosses have reassured local people that these services will be retained at both sites and there is ‘no intention’ for this to change.

The public is now also being asked to share more of their opinions on the plans, by taking part in online engagement events.

Group chief executive Simon Weldon said: “Opportunities to improve the quality and consistency of local healthcare services, using public funds wisely, and the need to attract and retain the best possible surgeons, doctors, nurses and other hospital staff for Northamptonshire, are all good reasons for the two hospitals to work more closely together.

“As we develop plans for the new hospital group we’ll launch next year, we want to make sure both that our collective vision reflects what local people think are the most important things we should do, and that our values reflect the way people feel our hospital staff should behave when providing healthcare services.

“To capture those opinions we are holding two major online public engagement events which everyone with an interest in the future of our hospitals is invited to attend.

“People will hear more about our emerging plans for the future and will be able to share their own views.

“We will use feedback from the events to make sure that our plans for the future reflect what local people want us to do.

“We want the two hospitals to have a vision, mission and values that we all agree on and which respond to what local people think we should be doing.”

The two online engagement events are on November 17 and November 26 from 6pm-7.30pm.

Events will be recorded and will be available on the websites of both hospital trusts shortly afterwards.

Access to the November 17 event can be found here and the November 26 is here.

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