Major health survey gives residents a chance to shape the future

EVERY household in Warrington is being urged to take part in a survey to help shape the future of the local NHS services for many years to come.
Leaflets are currently dropping through the letter boxes of nearly 100,000 households across the borough as part of a campaign called “A Healthier Warrington.”
The leaflets will ask people a range of questions to help NHS bosses to understand what local people want from their local health services and help determine their future spending priorities.
The exercise could lead to major improvements of grassroots health services including GP practices and community services.
The NHS wants as many people as possible to give their views about their health priorities and concerns.
People can also complete the survey online by logging onto a special website, www.ahealthierwarrington.org.uk
Their responses will help to determine future NHS spending priorities, as well as how services are delivered, in the future.
A major advertising campaign has also been launched, urging members of the public to get involved in the debate.
Local doctors, nurses and other health workers, as well as carers and patients, are also being asked for their views.
A series of events will then be held in the summer to give health bosses the opportunity to talk directly to residents and health workers about their views.
GP Joanne McCormack, who practises in Padgate and is chair of the PCT’s Clinical Leadership Team, said: “I would like to encourage the public, patients their relatives and carers to become involved.”
Jan Holding, Head of Partnerships at Warrington PCT, added: “This health debate gives local people a real opportunity have their say and help us to develop the very best local health service so it is essential that as many people as possible take part.
“We want people to use this opportunity to make their voices heard.”
Andrew Burgess, chief executive of Warrington Primary Care Trust, said: “We’d like people to give us just 10 minutes of their time to complete and return the questionnaire which is being sent out.
“It is vital that we gather the views of as many members of the public as possible so we can get a clear idea of what people want from their local NHS.”