Initial proposals were agreed by NHS Rotherham Board in March.

These proposals are being worked up into a proposal document which will be available to staff, patients partners and the public. There will be an additional information pack for staff employed by NHS Rotherham which will identify the likely implications for staff under the proposals.

We will be consulting with staff about the required changes but we are not required to consult formally with the public at this stage because this is about a change of management rather than a change in service received by the public although we will inform the public about our proposals. The staff consultation and public engagement programme will run from 24 May to 23 August 2010 and a final decision will be made by the NHS Rotherham Board at a meeting in September.