FREE exercise sessions and better A&E services are among new plans designed to boost people’s health in East Lancashire.
Health and care chiefs from Pennine Lancashire have published a radical new draft plan which aims to improve residents’ wellbeing.
Among the key pledges in the blueprint called ‘Together a Healthier Future’ are plans to improve A&E performance against national targets and a promise to ‘strengthen free leisure opportunities’ and promote healthy food choices.
It also aims to make access to health services clearer for patients and transform urgent and emergency care
There is also a proposal to further improve and develop elective care services for medical and surgical procedures.
The plan will involve the formation of a new group from April next year, representing all health and care organisations, along with councils and voluntary, community and faith-sector services.
It would see organisations working together to ‘achieve the best health and well being out outcomes for the population’, and ‘make a positive difference’ to people’s lives.
Pennine Lancashire is a partnership which covers Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire and aims to improve health and care services.
Graham Burgess, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen CCG, said the area had ‘high levels of deprivation, poor health outcomes and grater demand for health and care services’.
He added: “People in Pennine Lancashire are more likely to experience ill health compared with people living in other parts of the country.
“The good news is that we can prevent many of our illnesses and, by working together, we can help improve people’s health and wellbeing, whilst continuing to provide effective and efficient health and care services.”
Dr Phil Huxley, a GP, and chairman of East Lancashire CCG and chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Care Professionals board said: “As a GP, I am really pleased with this plan as it sets out how we can make our services the best that they can be.
“Our doctors, nurses, pharmacies and other health care professionals can work better together in our neighbourhoods and we can improve hospital and urgent care services by providing more support in communities.
People are now being asked for their views on the draft plan.
To read the proposals and tell health chiefs what you think, visit togetherahealthierfuture.org.uk/pennine-plan
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