Your view on health and care In Somerset
On Monday (15 October) the first of a number of county-wide events will take place to hear local people’s views on health and social care in Somerset. The Somerset CCG is the body responsible for deciding how the NHS budget is spent in Somerset and it, together with the NHS Trusts for the two hospitals, Somerset Partnership and Somerset County Council want to know more about what you think.
The events will also go to some trouble to explain why we need a new approach to health and care services to help support Somerset residents to live longer, healthier and more independent lives. There are five broad headings under which they’d like your feedback:
- planned care (usually non-emergency treatment) and cancer,
- long term health conditions (such as diabetes) and frailty
- urgent and emergency care
- mental health and learning disabilities, and
- maternity and children’s services.
The first two sessions take place next week; the first is at Berrow Village Hall, Burnham-on-Sea, on Monday afternoon, 3pm-6.30pm, closely followed by Great Bow Wharf, Langport on Wednesday 17 October, 10am to 2pm).
Inevitably as the staff involve work office hours, the sessions all take place, with only a couple of exceptions, within office hours. So whilst they may well get lots of useful input from those who are big users of the NHS and social care right now, they won’t presumably be expecting anyone under the age of 65 in full time employment to be turning up.
Which is a shame as they will be the users of healthcare and social care in the future. Whilst people can review the information at https://www.fitformyfuture and feedback their thoughts via an online questionnaire located in the ‘get involved’ section, it’s a shame that such a big and important consultation has been appears to be designed for the convenience of the staff involved, rather than looking to get the maximum amount of feedback from across all ages and social groups.
Anyway if you’d like to give your feedback – here are the places and times when you can do so:
- Berrow Village Hall, Burnham-on-Sea, Monday 15th October, 3pm – 6.30pm
- Great Bow Wharf, Langport, Wednesday 17th October, 10am- 2pm
- Balsam Centre, Wincanton, Tuesday 23rd October, 10am- 2pm
- Axbridge Town Hall, Axbridge, Thursday 25th October, 10am- 2pm
- Hub Nub, Frome, Monday 29th of October, 10am- 2pm
- The Arts Centre, Wellington, Tuesday 30th October , 12.30pm – 4.30pm
- Ilminster Town Hall, Ilminster, Wednesday 31st October, 3.30pm – 7pm
- Victoria Park Community Centre, Bridgwater, Tuesday 6th November, 10am- 2pm
- Hen Hayes, Crewkerne, Wednesday 7th November, 4pm – 7pm
- The Guildhall, Chard, Monday 12th November, 12.00pm – 4pm
- Albermarle Centre, Taunton, Wednesday 14th November, 10am- 2pm
- Shape Mendip, Shepton Mallet, Thursday 15th November, 10am- 2pm
- Brushford Parish Hall, Dulverton, Tuesday 20th November, 3.30pm – 7pm
- Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Wednesday 21st November, 10am- 2pm
- The Hub, Minehead, Monday 26th November, 1.30pm – 5.30pm
- Abbey Manor Centre, Yeovil, Tuesday 27th November, 1.30pm – 5.30pm