Doctors in the Vale of York have been buoyed by the willingness of local patients, voluntary and community groups to work with them to surmount the financial challenges facing the local NHS.

The third ‘Patient Forum’ to be organised by the new Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) took place at the city’s Priory Street Centre at the end of November. Themed around “Challenges and Change”, around 80 patients, local community and voluntary sector organisations and members of the public attended to discuss how partnership working can deliver a sustainable local health service in the future.

Dr Cath Snape, a GP at Gillygate Surgery and member of the CCG’s Governing Body, was instrumental in organising the event. She says:

“Finance is one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS in the Vale of York and we’ve made no secret of that. As the body which will take on responsibility for commissioning local health services in April next year, Vale of York CCG has to look at ways of prioritising the resources we do have, and working with partners to ensure we continue to provide the best care possible.

“We have been really encouraged by the willingness of our partners in the voluntary and community sectors, our patients and other stakeholders to first of all understand the issues we’re facing and then work with us to find solutions.

“At our most recent forum meeting, we were able to have some really meaningful discussions with attendees about how we can develop a healthier community together, thereby working to prevent ill-health, and how we work to avoid costly and unnecessary hospital admissions for older people by supporting them to live independently at home.

“Our guests came up with some really good ideas and some really helpful feedback on the things we’re doing already, which we’ll be considering and responding to in due course.”

A full report from this event, including a summary of delegate feedback, will appear on the Vale of York CCG website shortly: www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk

The next Vale of York CCG Patient Forum will take place in Easingwold in May 2013. Anyone interested in attending should register their interest with Holly Firth-Davies on 01904 694816 or holly.firth-davies@nyypct.nhs.uk in the first instance, and more details will be circulated in due course.

ENDS

For further information contact the Communications Team for NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group on 01423 859616

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