Local people are being consulted about their views on a series of proposals designed to make best use of the money available to the local NHS, while helping as many people as possible to live healthier, longer lives and avoid preventable illnesses.

These proposals are being made by NHS East and North Hertfordshire and NHS Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

The consultations are being launched as Hertfordshire’s CCGs face a range of challenges. The number of people who need health service support is increasing and many people are living longer, often with complex conditions. Some patients need essential care and treatment day and night, which costs an average of £940 a week but can cost as much as £9,800 a week. National and local shortages of NHS staff mean that we have to make sure that doctors’, nurses’ and other specialists’ time is used wisely. We also need to encourage people to think carefully about their own wellbeing so that they live healthier lives, avoid preventable illnesses and have the very best chance of recovering well from surgery.

These proposals are about:

• Tightening up existing rules so that people who smoke or whose weight is classified as ‘obese’ are required to make bigger improvements to their health before non-urgent surgery – unless a longer wait for surgery would be harmful
• Reducing or stopping the availability of NHS- funded IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and specialist fertility services
• Limiting the routine prescription of food supplements, as well as medicines and products that can be bought without prescription for short-term conditions and minor ailments
• Restricting the prescribing of gluten-free foods
• Stopping the routine funding for female sterilisation procedures
• Stopping the routine funding of vasectomies (this proposal would only affect patients registered with a GP in the Herts Valleys CCG area – eg Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers and Watford).

Local people are being consulted about their views on a series of proposals designed to make best use of the money available to the local NHS, while helping as many people as possible to live healthier, longer lives and avoid preventable illnesses.

These proposals are being put forward by NHS Herts Valleys and NHS East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

You are invited to discuss the financial recovery plan at a number of public events or find out more and complete the consultation and view the equality impact assessments (EQIAs) online.

Monday 17 July, 3.30 to 5.30pm - Drop-by session, Sportspace, Hemel Hempstead
Wednesday 19 July, 11am to 1pm - Drop-by session, St Albans Hospital
Saturday 22 July, 9am to 12 noon - Drop-by session, St Albans market
Monday 24 July, 7 to 9pm - Public meeting, Stanborough Centre, St Albans Road, Watford. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Monday 31 July, 7 to 9pm - Public meeting, Rothamsted Centre, Harpenden. Book your place.
Monday 7 August, 9.30am to 12 noon - Drop-by session, The Forum, Hemel Hempstead
Tuesday 8 August, 9.30am to 12.30pm - Drop-by session, Oakmere Library, High Street, Potters Bar
Wednesday 9 August, 9 to 11am - Drop-by session, Sportspace, Hemel Hempstead
Wednesday 9 August, 7 to 9pm - Dacorum public meeting, Southhill Centre, Hemel Hempstead. Book your place.
Wednesday 6 September, 2 to 4pm - Hertsmere public meeting, Allum Hall, Elstree. Book your place.