Rochdale residents Speak Up

The PCT mascot exercises with visitors to the event

Hundreds of Rochdale residents turned up to NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale’s Speak Up! It’s Your Health consultation event on Saturday (27 September).

The event gave people the chance to have their say on Rochdale's health plans over the next five years, including lifestyles, mental health, GP services, hospital care and dental care.

Throughout the day, the team gave out hundreds of consultation booklets and conducted 110 face to face interviews. 30 people gave their feedback through the ‘Big Brother’ video booth and many more took part playing on the Wii Fit and cycling themselves a smoothie.

The Health Trainers, who were on hand to give out advice on diet, exercise and stopping smoking programmes, also secured 10 new patients to use their services.

Denise Dawson, Patient Experience Manager for NHS HMR, said: “We are really encouraged by the fantastic turn out from the people in Rochdale. Clearly the issues being addressed in the Speak Up! consultation are important to local people and we are already receiving lots of 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 next Speak Up! consultation will be held at the Heywood Civic Centre on Saturday (4 October).

The consultation period will run until 7 November and the final plan will be published in March 2009.