The NHS has launched a public consultation about proposals for five Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) services – breast surgery, general surgery, nephrology, urology, and vascular surgery.

Running from 7 June until 2 August 2022, the consultation is part of a wider plan to better organise where care happens across Aintree, the Royal Liverpool, and Broadgreen hospitals.

The proposals involve bringing staff together – where they aren’t already working as a single team – so that care is more joined up.

Bringing clinical teams together and reducing duplication across Liverpool’s main adult hospitals, will help make the most of specialist staff and resources, and ensure that all patients receive the same, high-quality treatment, whichever hospital they use.

If the changes went ahead, it would mean that in some cases people would be treated at a different LUHFT hospital than they might currently use.

This would mainly affect specialist surgery and inpatient care (where an overnight stay in hospital is required), but there are separate plans for each of the five services.

The proposals were developed by staff working in each of the five services, as part of a process to look at how care could be improved in the future.

They don’t involve any reduction in funding – in fact, the changes would mean additional investment for some of the services involved. This is set out in more detail in the public consultation materials.

No final decisions have been made yet – feedback from the public consultation will be used to inform a final business case, which is due to be published in Autumn 2022.

People can find out more and fill out an online questionnaire at: www.futureLUHFT.nhs.uk

Those who need printed information, alternative formats, or languages other than English can call (0151) 247 6406 (Monday to Friday, between 9am-5pm), text: 07920 206 386 or email: future.LUHFT@nhs.net

Those who would prefer to provide their feedback over the phone can also use the contact details above to get in touch with NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is co-ordinating the public consultation on behalf of NHS Knowsley CCG, NHS Liverpool CCG, NHS South Sefton CCG, and NHS Southport & Formby CCG.

In addition, a number of online meetings will take place during June, giving people a chance to hear about the proposals, and take part in focus-group discussions. For details of when these events are taking place and how to sign up, visit: www.futureLUHFT.nhs.uk