A SENIOR government minister has said health bosses in the county will conduct a "robust and inclusive’" appraisal before deciding how services will be delivered.

The statement comes after the minister of state at the Department of Health Simon Burns met with Neil Carmichael, MP for Stroud to discuss what options were now facing NHS Gloucestershire.

The health authority has had to go back to the drawing board after proposals to transfer service provision to a social enterprise company were blocked by a judicial review in February.

Stroud pensioner, Michael Lloyd, 76, lodged the judicial review claiming the NHS had acted unlawfully in planning to hand management of county hospitals and some services to a new body. NHS Gloucestershire settled out of court and agreed to start again.

In a letter to Mr Carmichael Mr Burns said creating a Foundation Trust and keeping services in the NHS was an option.

He said "The PCT will now undertake a robust and inclusive options appraisal. Those options will include establishing an NHS Trust, transferring services to a local NHS Foundation Trust and competitive tendering."

"If having completed its appraisal the PCT decides that its preferred option would be to establish an NHS Trust - which could then apply to become a NHS Community Foundation Trust - it would need to be understood by stakeholders that achieving Community Foundation Trust status cannot be guaranteed."

At the moment NHS Gloucestershire currently performs two roles; commissioning and providing health services, however, under changes to the NHS it will not be able to provide services in the future.

Mr Carmichael said: "I have been seeking to establish the way forward for community health services in Stroud for two very simple reasons – staff and patients. The judicial review has required the PCT to think again, and consider a wide range of options, ensuring this time the proper level of staff and public engagement.

"Thanks to the minister, we now have a clear way forward to provide certainty for patients and staff if everyone works together."

NHS Gloucestershire has now opened a 30-day period for expressions of interest for providers and interested parties to give their views on how health services could be provided.

Following this there will be a public and staff consultation period including drop in public events in every district, and an on-line information booklet with e-feedback form.