Your views on proposed changes to clinical policies

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is inviting views to help update 25 clinical policies for treatments and procedures in line with the latest evidence of what works best, in the third phase of its harmonisation programme to also ensure equal access for patients no matter which part of the area they live in.

These policies cover some specific treatments and procedures, such as acne treatment in hospital and keyhole surgery for hip impingement, which often only benefit certain groups of patients in some particular medical circumstances.

The policies set out when and often where these treatments and procedures should be used and which patients would benefit medically from them.

A total of 113 policies inherited by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside from predecessor clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are being reviewed during the lifetime of the programme.

This is to remove any variation that exists between different CCG areas and to ensure they meet the most up to date medical evidence, guidance and best practice.

Already, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside has published 84 policies in phases one and two of the programme, where there was no change in the way patients experience and access the treatments and procedures covered by these policies as a result of harmonising them and you can find them here.

Now, some changes are being proposed to the 25 policies in this latest phase of the programme and residents and other interested parties are being encouraged to give their views in an online survey to help harmonise and finalise these documents.

Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, medical director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: 

You can find more information, along with a list of policies in this current phase of the programme and details of how to complete the survey before Wednesday, 19 February 2025, on our website here.