GP Services consultation kicks off

Ear Logo

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust (HMRPCT) is starting its biggest ever public consultation to help decide what services its new GP surgeries will provide.

In March the PCT announced that areas of the Rochdale Borough are set to get new GP practices, as well as a new GP-led health centre, as part of a Borough-wide strategy to improve healthcare in the areas with the most health need. New GP practices will be located in the Smallbridge & Wardle and Central Rochdale areas, as well as another in Heywood and a new GP-led health centre in Middleton. All of these facilities will provide the normal services expected from a GP surgery but the PCT also wants to include a range of additional services depending on the health needs of each area.

The campaign, which is represented by an ear, will give the public and local bodies the chance to have their say on what these additional services should be. The consultation has started and will last until the end of June. It plans to reach as many people as possible in the selected areas, starting off with an information leaflet and questionnaire being distributed to every household over the course of the next fortnight. People can also complete the questionnaire online by visiting the PCT website and clicking on the consultation logo- an ear- on the homepage.

People local to each area will also be invited to attend open days and public meetings in and consultation teams will be out on the streets during the campaign to make sure as many people as possible get to have their say.

Denise Dawson, patient experience manager at the PCT is co-ordinating the campaign. She commented: “For the GP surgeries and the health centre to make a big difference to the communities they are in, we need to know what services the local people would find useful. Some might think that regular parenting classes would be beneficial or sessions about how to stop smoking. We also want to know people’s views on where in each chosen area the facilities could go, as well as what they think about introducing a variety of organisations to run the services. All of these things matter and this consultation will greatly assist to decide what exactly these new services will offer.”

Trevor Purt, Chief Executive for the PCT added: “We are serious about involving the public in local health matters. We want to talk and listen to those from the four chosen locations about the need for changes, potential plans and discuss ideas or concerns they may have, as ultimately they are the people who will use them most.”

Dates of all consultation events, a copy of the questionnaire and consultation document can all be found on the PCT website:

• www.hmrpct.nhs.uk