Give your views about Healthier Together

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group

Local people are encouraged to complete an online survey about health and social care in Greater Manchester, in order to shape future services across the region.

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG) is gathering views from the public and patients to feed into a wider programme of healthcare reform called Healthier Together.

Healthier Together is the Greater Manchester programme for health and social care reform which aims to provide the best services for everyone in a population of almost three million people. There are three elements to the project: integrated health and social care; primary care; and hospital care.

Health needs are very different today to those decades ago when the NHS was set up. Similarly, advances in modern technology offer the potential for many health services to be delivered in different and better ways.

The current population is living longer; however, more people are living with long term conditions which increases the demand on the NHS and social care services.

Healthier Together aims to address these and other issues to meet current and future healthcare needs, with a focus on providing the most appropriate care in the most appropriate place.

For example, where possible, the aim is to provide high quality care for those with long term conditions such as diabetes and obesity in the community to help them remain independent in their own homes.

A ‘case for change’ document has been produced to explain the reasons why changes to health and social care are needed and to outline the general approach proposed. This is available at www.hmr.nhs.uk/healthiertogether 

Once you have read the ‘case for change’ document, to share your views about the reasons for change and the proposed approach to addressing the issues, please complete NHS HMR CCG’s short online survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFNDM83  The deadline for responses is Monday 31 March.

You can also find out more about Healthier Together and share your views at our public events:

• Tuesday 18 March, 9.30am-12noon
  Middleton Masonic Hall, Manchester Old Road, Middleton, M24 4DY
• Wednesday 26 March, 9.30am-12noon
  Littleborough Coach House, Lodge Street, Littleborough, OL15 9AE
• Friday 28 March, 1-3.30pm
  Heywood Civic hall, 3 Church Street, Heywood, OL10 1LW

Dr Chris Duffy, local GP and chair of NHS HMR CCG, said: “The population of Greater Manchester has traditionally suffered some of the poorest health in England, however, it doesn’t always have to be this way. The Healthier Together initiative aims for Greater Manchester to have the best health and care in the country.

“We know health and social care expenditure accounts for £6 billion (nearly a third) of public sector expenditure in Greater Manchester. Our role as commissioners is to provide quality, value for money services which are fit for purpose. The vision for the future is one where, no matter where you live in Greater Manchester, you can access the best possible quality of care.

“We appreciate this is a complex and emotive subject that local people will want to understand and feed into. We would encourage you to read the ‘case for change’ document and complete the survey so your views can be considered.”

All views and comments received through the survey and events will be considered and fed in to the wider Healthier Together process.

NHS HMR CCG’s short online survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFNDM83

The deadline for responses is Monday 31 March.

Alternatively, visit www.healthiertogethergm.nhs.uk or www.hmr.nhs.uk