Showcasing innovation in local healthcare

Dr Chris Duffy, NHS HMR CCG Chair and local GP

People who have benefited from grants awarded to local health-related community and voluntary projects star in a new promotional video.

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group worked with ITN Productions to produce the short film as a way of helping local people understand what the organisation is about and how they can influence decisions about local healthcare services.

The four-and-a-half-minute video features members of the Rochdale Carers’ Choir talking about the difference the funding their group received from NHS HMR CCG has made to their individual lives.

It also features 23-year-old Toni Bowers who has learning and mobility difficulties and is visually impaired. Toni was able to complete her bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award with help from CCG funding.

The funding was part of last year’s social fund when a total of £1 million was given by NHS HMR CCG to support 69 local projects that aimed to deliver health benefits to community groups. Following the success of the scheme, it is being repeated this year, with bids currently being considered.

Dr Chris Duffy, local GP and chairman of NHS HMR CCG, who features in the video, said: “We’re extremely proud of our social investment fund. It’s an innovative way of boosting the health of local people through the excellent work of so many charity, voluntary and community groups.

“Improving people’s health and wellbeing isn’t just about providing good medical care; it’s about enabling people to live happy, active and confident lives every day. We are really seeing the positive impact these projects are having and wanted to share some of the emotive stories with others.

“As a new organisation, we’re working hard to build our reputation and help people to recognise and understand our role and priorities. This video is a great way of explaining to local people, partners and healthcare professionals what HMR CCG is about, what we are doing and how they can get involved.”

The video also features Dr Lynn Hampson, the CCG’s clinical lead for urgent care, talking about plans for the forthcoming Oasis Unit – a new ward at Rochdale Infirmary that will support patients with dementia arriving at hospital with acute medical conditions to receive appropriate care.

Highlighting another important aspect of the organisation’s work, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council Councillor Colin Lambert shares his views about the importance of partnership working.

The video is available on YouTube and on our website www.hmr.nhs.uk.

It will also be shown as part of a wider programme about the work of clinical commissioning groups across the country at the NHS Alliance annual conference on 28 November in London.