Health service changes will be explained

NHS event at golf club

HEALTH chiefs are hosting another engagement event outlining their vision for the future of services in Hinckley.

The showcase evening is on Monday March 27 at Hinckley Golf Club on Leicester Road, starting from 6pm.

Anyone wanting to attend should register their interest as places are limited.

The aim of the engagement event is to offer greater insight into what changes NHS commissioners are proposing and why.

A reduction in community hospital beds and the closure of Hinckley and District Hospital on Mount Road are among the headline suggestions.

It is all part of a shake-up of services in the face of growing pressure on health and social care due to an ageing population and potential multi-million pound black holes in both local and national NHS budgets.

The events are being organised by West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). A spokesman said: “We have so far delivered three events in West Leicestershire, talking to people about what we believe should be different about services in the future including having more care provided in the com- munity, so that you only go to acute hospitals when they are acutely ill or when it is a planned procedure that cannot be done in a community setting.

“These events have been extremely well attended and attendees have voiced a wide range of opinions on the proposals which we are capturing. As before attendees will be able to ask questions directly to senior health and social care staff about what matters most in the healthcare they receive.”

The CCG, along with other health bodies across the country have a draft blueprint for the future, a Sustainability and Transformation Plan which sets out how services will change to meet increasing need.

The spokesman added: “We are committed to supporting people to stay healthy and lead independent lives and believe that our proposals will help to achieve this. We understand that the thought of change brings uncertainties for people, which is why these events are important and will allow us to have conversations with local communities about how their care might be delivered in the future.”

To sign up for the event visit www. westleicestershireccg.nhs.uk/STPevents, email: communications@westleicestershireccg.nhs.uk or call 0116 295 4183.