Views about community services wanted

Southport and Formby residents are being invited to give their views about a range of NHS treatments – including blood testing, care for feet and leg ulcers, district nursing, pain control and community matrons – known collectively as community health services.

NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is asking residents to give their views and experiences as part of its current review and re-procurement of these services.

Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “After their GP, community services are often the most commonly used healthcare that our residents will come into contact with, which is why it’s important we hear what they think about them.”

Across the NHS, commissioners have contracts with organisations like community health trusts and hospitals, which set out standards for the services they provide. Commissioners also have a legal duty to carry out re-procurement exercises for these contracts from time to time, and this helps to ensure that healthcare constantly meets expected levels of quality.

Rob explained: “We constantly review and monitor the services we commission so they are the best they can be, and so we can be assured that they are capable of meeting the changing needs of our residents in the future. Southport and Formby residents are getting older and their health problems are growing more complex.

“We already know from speaking to people over the past couple of years that they want more care provided closer to home and for all the services they use to work better together. This has helped us to shape our vision for all future healthcare, including community health services, that is more joined up and therefore more effective in meeting our local needs.

“Hearing more from our residents about what currently works well and what needs to be improved is an important part of our ongoing review of community services, and I’d ask as many Southport and Formby residents as possible to complete our quick questionnaire and tell us what they think.”

• You can read more about the CCG’s vision for future healthcare in its 5 year strategy and Shaping Sefton documents
• The survey offers an additional way for Southport and Formby residents to give their views about their local community services – take part now