Guide to new health services

WARRINGTON’S Clinical Commissioning Group – the new NHS organisation which now has responsibility for the town’s health and social care services – has published a guide to who they are and what they do.
The handy booklet contains the CCG’s proposals to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents – and explains how the organisation works.
Run by local GPs, the group became a statutory body in April and is responsible for buying health and social care services for Warrington’s 206,000 residents.
These include hospital and emergency services, treatments and medicines, community services and mental health services.
There are 26 GP Practices in Warrington, all of which are members of the group, enabling patients and clinicians to have a greater say in how health services are delivered locally.
Dr Andy Davies (pictured) local GP and CCG chairman said: “With recent changes to the NHS and the way that services are bought and delivered, we recognise that not all of our residents fully understand who we are and what we are here to achieve.
“Our new ‘Who we are and What we do’ booklet helps to explain our purpose, our responsibilities, and how we are working to improve services, redesign the way people can access healthcare and keep local people healthy.”
The CCG is working closely with patient groups, local residents, Warrington Borough Council, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Bridgewater Community NHS Health Care Trust to make sure that health and social care is linked together for people whenever possible.
Ten key programme areas have been identified for improvement by the CCG and are now well underway following consultation with health partners and the public.
These include improving the health of children and young people in Warrington by acting early and intervening at the right time; improving services for people living with long-term conditions and mental health issues: reducing the need for hospital stays and giving care closer to home; decreasing the number of emergency admissions and A&E attendances; and improving the quality of medicines prescribing and making savings where possible.
Warrington CCG says it is committed to engaging with local people and wants to make the ‘no decision about me without me’ a reality for the town.
Capturing the experience of patients who use NHS services is very important for the CCG and will help to improve current services across the area.
Anyone who would like to share their story should contact Warrington CCG’s patient engagement and experience lead, Paul Steele on 01925 843774 or [email protected]
The new guide can be read at www.warringtonccg.nhs.uk or by telephoning 01925 843 636 to request a hard copy.
Further information about the CCG’s commissioning intentions for 2013/2014 can also be accessed online through the CCG’s website.