The six CCGs* in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are seeking views from patients across five service areas. Altogether the six CCGs commission offer over 800 different services and treatments, but availability of these varies across the area. Together they have been spending around £2 million more per week than they receive, and that means some difficult decisions now need to be made.

That is why they are now asking people for their experiences of five different treatments for which access is different across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The CCGs say they want to understand the real impact these treatments have on people’s lives before deciding how they should be provided across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in the future.

The five areas are:

‘Engagement’

The CCGs say they want to listen to the view of patients to understand the impact these treatments have on their lives and are encouraging people to take part in the engagement activity to share their experiences.

The British Academy of Audiology is engaging with its partners in the Hearing Loss and Deafness Alliance to play a helpful part in supporting and amplifying some of the actions being taken locally by patient, professional and sector groups and helping a co-ordinated response across the sector. Any response will be evidence-based and constructive. BAA Board will also write to the CCGs about this engagement exercise.

Get involved:
  • Download and read this pdf information paper, which explains the background to the five areas and why these difficult decisions need to be made.
  • Complete the online survey: bit.ly/Difficult_Decisions by 23:59 on Sunday 1 March 2020 – remember to complete as many sub-sections depending on how many services/treatments you want to share your experiences of.
  • Request a paper version of the survey – return using the freepost address on the survey by Sunday 1 March 2020.

* The 6 CCGs are:

Cannock Chase Clinical Commissioning Group

East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group

North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group

South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group

Stafford and Surrounds Clinical Commissioning Group

Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Group