Have Your Say On The Future Of Community Healthcare In Halton and St Helens
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust is launching a drive to engage patients and the public in its plans for the future.
Working with its patients, staff, partners and public, the organisation which spans Ashton, Leigh and Wigan, Halton and St Helens, Warrington and Trafford is seeking views on its arrangements for becoming a Foundation Trust (FT).
Bridgewater provides a wide range of community based health services to a population of more than one million people. In addition, its Dental division provides highly specialist community dental services to the residents of Bolton, Stockport, Ashton, Leigh & Wigan, Halton & St Helens, Trafford, Tameside & Glossop, Warrington and Western Cheshire.
On February 1st 2012 the Trust will launch a far–reaching public consultation on its plans and there will be numerous opportunities for patients, public and partners to hear of its ambitions. The consultation will run until April 30th 2012.
Consultation events in the Halton and St Helens area will be held on:
- 8th February - 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Crownway Community Centre, Crown Street, Newton le Willows, WA12 9DA
- 23rd February - 11:00am to 1:00pm at St Helens World of Glass, Chalon Way East, St Helens, WA10 1BX
- 13th March - 11:00am to 1:00pm, The Foundry, Lugsdale Road ,Widnes, WA8 6DA
Chief Executive Dr Kate Fallon said: “We are excited about the opportunities that FT status offers us.
“We want more freedom to innovate and grow within the NHS so we can improve the services we offer to patients, their families and carers.”
As an FT the Trust will be required to recruit members from the communities in all boroughs where services are provided. Membership is open to anyone aged over 14 years.
Members will have a unique opportunity to influence future decisions about NHS community services. These services include district nursing, health visiting, community podiatry and the Halton and St Helens Walk-in-Centres.
People can choose how involved they would like to be and members will be consulted on plans and services as well as electing the Council of Governors.
“As an organisation it is important we build upon the network of services already out there, develop new and more innovative packages of care and ensure we remain at the heart of the communities which we serve,” added Kate.
Chairman of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust Harry Holden said: “As a Foundation Trust we will be free to invest our monies in those services which we know are valued and needed by those we serve. It will also ensure our patients and local people have a greater say in our decision making in the future.
“We must never lose sight of the fact that we are here to meet their needs and we firmly believe Foundation Trust status will give us new and exciting ways of enhancing the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the area.”
To download copies of the consultation documents outlining the plans for becoming a Foundation Trust and for details of more consultation events, visit the Bridgewater website: www.bridgewater.nhs.uk/ft
To become a member of the organisation email communications@bridgewater.nhs.uk or telephone 01942 482672
About Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust:
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust is responsible for providing NHS community health services in Ashton, Leigh & Wigan, Halton & St Helens, Trafford, Warrington and also delivers community dental services in the above areas plus Bolton, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop and Western Cheshire.
The trust is divided into five divisions to ensure that there is local management of local services. These divisions are:
Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Division
Halton and St Helens Division
Trafford Division
Warrington Division
Community Dental Network
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust serves a population of more than one million over a combined area of around 322 square miles and employs the equivalent of 3,500 full time staff.
The trust name comes from the Bridgewater Canal which encircles a significant proportion of the boroughs in which the trust provides services.
