Last month I shared with you our ambitions to secure Foundation Trust (FT) status for this organisation and why it is important to us that we have your support.
As a provider of community health services and specialist dental health services across the boroughs of Ashton, Leigh and Wigan, Halton & St Helens, Trafford , Warrington and parts of Bolton and Stockport – our network of services is extensive and can, on occasion, be misunderstood.
Chances are that if you or a loved one have ever had a surgical procedure and discharged from hospital it was one of our staff who checked your dressing / wound and advised on the appropriate course of treatment to support your recovery.
When you were concerned about a bump to your child’s head, our walk in centre staff/out of hours clinicians, would have provided the care, support and reassurance you were seeking.
Our wheelchair service staff and community equipment loan staff make sure some of our most vulnerable clients have the aids/adaptations they need to allow them to live independently in their own homes and our highly skilled therapists get you back on your feet after trauma.
These are just a handful of the things we do.
I know they are valued and appreciated because your cards, letters and emails tell me so.
That is why it is extremely important to me that you become a member of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust so you might bring your experiences of our services to the decision making table.
Securing FT status will give patients a stronger voice in our development and growth. To view a copy of our summary consultation document please click here.
During the summer our staff will be actively recruiting members from the communities we serve and attending a number of events including Disability Awareness Day at Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington on Sunday July 15 and Castlefields Community Open Day, Runcorn on Saturday July 21.
We are also finalising one of the key documents underpinning our FT bid, our Integrated Business Plan. This sets out how we will manage our finances successfully without compromising on the quality of care we deliver to patients.
Our staff; health visitors, district nurses, physiotherapists and many others have all been involved in finalising this piece of work and I am extremely grateful for their help and support.
It is a pleasure and a privilege to be Chief Executive of this organisation. I sincerely hope you will sign up and become a member – your experience; the experience of your loved ones will help us shape services in the future.
