NHS under the microscope

THE future of NHS services in Warrington came under the microscope at a special event hosted by MP Helen Jones.
Representatives from the local Clinical Commissioning Group – responsible for deciding what resources Warrington NHS services receive – attended the event at Winwick Leisure Centre to listen to the views of members of the public and frontline NHS staff.
The Warrington North MP’s “Our NHS” evening was organised in partnership with Movement for Change, which uses the power of community organising to make change happen.
The event was run in “reverse Town Hall” style, meaning that decision-makers were there not to speak but to listen to the views of local people.
Ms Jones (pictured) said: “Warrington NHS services are currently facing their biggest challenge yet as they try to implement massive reforms on a much-reduced budget.
“As a result, I’ve seen a big increase in the number of people approaching me with concerns about these vital local provisions.
“People in Warrington are long overdue a say in their NHS. Collective community action is the best way of ensuring that these concerns are addressed and that our local services are delivered to the highest-quality possible.”
The evening included a number of powerful testimonies from local people and NHS staff about their interaction with the NHS. Their stories ranged from the pressures on frontline staff on hospital wards to the brilliant
maternity service one family received when their little girl was born.
At the end of the event, members of the public had the opportunity to share their ideas
for improving services with the decision-makers in the room.
Ms Jones said: “This was a really fruitful and interactive event. It was
wonderful to sit and listen to local people come up with potential solutions to the challenges facing their NHS. We want to build on this community engagement and work in partnership with local people to improve the quality of service they receive.”