Archive for October, 2013

NHS Southport and Formby CCGs is joining forces with Sefton Health and Wellbeing Board for its next Big Chat event to talk about the work they have been doing together towards improving health and wellbeing in the borough.

It is also an opportunity for people attending the two Big Chat to hear how their views are helping to shape new services and programmes. Over the past year people have been giving their thoughts about health and social care at a series of joint public events. This feedback was used to devise the Sefton Health and Wellbeing Strategy – the overarching, borough wide plan that sets out the shared priorities of partners involved in health and social care.

Cllr Ian Moncur, chair of Sefton’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “It’s been around six months since we launched the Sefton Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and the Big Chat is a chance to inform people about the difference it is making to the way we work together for better health and social care. So I’d encourage as many people as possible to come along to the Big Chat and find out first hand.”

Some examples of services and programmes which are being developed following the launch of the Health and Wellbeing strategy will be showcased at the Big Chat, allowing people to comment on the progress so far.

Alongside this, people will be invited to discuss the CCG’s proposed plans for buying or ‘commissioning’ health services next year – which have also been shaped by feedback from earlier Big Chats and the Sefton Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Dr Niall Leonard, chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “We want to share our proposals as early as possible, so people can hear our thinking around improving services based on all the evidence and feedback we have gained over the past year. We are also keen to know what people think, and there will be plenty of opportunities at the event to give views.”

The Big Chat takes place on 29 October from 1pm until 4.30pm at Family Life Centre, Ash St, Southport, PR8 6JH.

Places will be offered on a first come, first served basis, and to register please email or telephone .

Sefton celebrates the launch of its local Healthwatch
Residents, local groups and stakeholders celebrated the launch of local health and social care watchdog Healthwatch Sefton at a recent public event.

Over 150 people attended a morning of networking and guest speakers at Crosby Civic Hall on the Tuesday 1st October – exactly six months after Healthwatch was established in April.

The event was hosted by Chair Maureen Kelly, and featured guest speakers Fiona Clark, Chief Officer of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (SSCCG) and NHS Southport & Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (SFCCG), and Mark Gamsu, Visiting Professor in Citizenship and Health from Leeds Metropolitan University.

Speaking at the event, Chief Officer of both Clinical Commissioning Groups in Sefton Fiona Clark said “Healthwatch will act as our critical friend, and I firmly believe that we can make a difference in Sefton as one voice by working together”.

“Healthwatch is absolutely key to our work, and it’s really important for local people to feed their experiences back to us”.

Closing the first half of the event, guest speaker Professor Mark Gamsu said “For me, Healthwatch will be right at the front of decision making when it comes to health and social care services. Evidence and data is so important, but the patient voice is what really makes a difference”.

Members of the Healthwatch Sefton staff team also spoke at the event and explained the key functions of Healthwatch, including the new Signposting & Information Service (Freephone ) which provides help and advice to Sefton residents on choosing the right local services.

Speaking after the event, Chair Maureen Kelly said “On behalf of everyone at Healthwatch Sefton, we would like to thank our local residents, groups and partners for coming along today and supporting our work. The overwhelming response from the community has been the perfect way to launch Healthwatch across Sefton”.

A full review including pictures, videos and audio from the launch event will be available at www.healthwatchsefton.co.uk in the coming weeks.

For more information on Healthwatch Sefton, please call ext 240 or
email .