Residents gather to debate shape of health and social care in East Lancashire

Residents were invited to get involved, debate and help shape the future of health and social care in East Lancashire at a recent engagement event.

Around 40 residents gathered at Haslingden Community Link & Children’s Centre on the evening of Wednesday November 16, to give their views and ideas on what works well, what needs improving and how to face the challenges ahead.

NHS and local councils in Pennine Lancashire, which is made of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, are working together to change the way health and social care is delivered in the area.

They have formed the Together A Healthier Future partnership to improve the health of residents and help people live healthy lives for longer in the face of growing financial pressures in the public sector.

Analysis also shows that if nothing is done, there will be a funding gap of millions of pounds in five years’ time as demand is outstripping the funding available.

It’s a tough challenge but health and council leaders are convinced that working together alongside residents and communities gives us the best chance of ensuring a healthier future for Pennine Lancashire.

In Haslingden, on the night, guests were asked to test messages around different types of care and support and the upcoming winter care campaign as well as discussing ways to continue engaging with people in future.

You can view some pictures from the event here.

Dr Mark Dziobon, NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

"We have held these engagement events to listen to the views and learn from the experiences of patients and members of the public and we have found their contributions vital. There has been a lot of good work done in this area over the years to make us healthier but we can and we must do better. Everyone – residents, businesses, community groups – needs to play a part in helping create a new system for our area, one which meets today’s challenges as well as challenges we will face in the future."

You can also get involved at: www.togetherahealthierfuture.org.uk,on Facebook or Twitter.