Another healthcare u-turn: 'Surely the millions wasted in the first review could have been used to improve MK Hospital.'

Just two months ago this newspaper reported that two separate reviews would be looking simultaneously 
at health across MK and Bedford.

The Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Sustainability and Transformation Plan was looking at the work done by 16 different organisations, looking for cash savings and other improvements.

And at the same time the ongoing £4.5million MK and Bedford Healthcare Review is looking at merging services over the two sites.

Now the two reviews are to be merged - while still carrying out their separate work.

Councillor Nigel Long claimed that the sprawling scheme could lead to further uncertainty in the city’s health economy.

He said: “Will the Sustainability and Transformation Plan overturn the Healthcare Review recommendations - such as to expand the maternity unit?

“Or to develop the Major trauma centre in MK?

“Surely the millions wasted in the first review could have been used to improve MK Hospital.

“We need guarantees that the STP will not shift maternity or A&E from MK.”

Both the MK and Bedford Healthcare Review and the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Sustainability and Transformation Plan follow another plan - the ill-fated Healthier Together.

This was designed to combine five different hospitals but was scrapped in 2013 after costing taxpayers £2.2million.

Read more on this story:

Click here for Councillor Nigel Long’s full response to the news.

Click here for the reply by the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Sustainability and Transformation Plan team.

And click here for a potted history of the various ill-fated plans to overhaul healthcare in Milton Keynes.