Hundreds Speak Up on health in Middleton

Nearly 1,000 people turned up to NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale’s first event for the ‘Speak Up! It’s your health’ consultation.

The consultation is giving people the chance to have their say on health plans over the next five years, including lifestyles, mental health, GP services, hospital care and dental care.

Over the course of the day, the team gave out more than 800 consultation booklets, conducted 90 face to face interviews and the Health Trainers secured 17 new patients to use their services. Attendees also got the first glimpse of the new NHS HMR mascot and the campaign’s main figurehead.

Denise Dawson, patient experience manager for NHS HMR, said: “We are really encouraged by the fantastic turn out from the people of Middleton. Clearly the issues being addressed in the Speak Up! consultation are important to local people and we are already receiving some useful feedback from people taking part.”

Last month NHS HMR distributed copies of the consultation booklet through the doors of everyone over 16 who is registered with a GP. People can also take part by completing the online feedback form at www.speakupnow.co.uk, where full details of the consultation can also be found.

The team will be visiting The Butts in Rochdale town centre on Saturday 27 September and Heywood Civic Centre on Saturday 4 October to make sure everyone has change to get involved.

The consultation period will run until 7 November and the final plan will be published in March next year.