Charlotte urges people to have their say on health care (From Knutsford Guardian)

Charlotte urges people to have their say on health care

5:00pm Saturday 19th January 2013 in News By James Wilson

A CAMPAIGN group is urging Knutsford people to attend a host of meetings which will directly affect the future of the town’s health and social care facilities.

Tatton ward at Knutsford and District Community Hospital was temporarily closed in August 2010, and since then there have been doubts over its future.

A 14-week consultation began in November 2012, with meetings set up by East Cheshire NHS Trust inviting residents to share their feelings.

But take-up at these meetings has not been as high as campaign groups had originally hoped for.

Charlotte Peters-Rock, founder of ChaCha (Cheshire Area for Cheshire Action), told the Guardian she was hoping that more of the town’s residents visit upcoming presentations about the trust’s plans.

“I believe they to have their say over their NHS and social care facilities,” she said.

“It’s not just a case of Tatton ward, but of where will the elderly in the area get their care from.

“I’m trying to gee people up to ask the questions I feel need to be asked. This move from the NHS would take the support that you get away from home and turn your home into a hospital ward.

“What people need is a local base, and Tatton ward is that.”

A spokesman for East Cheshire NHS Trust said: “An extensive programme has been arranged to ensure that as many people as possible have their say on the proposals.

“No decision will be made without the views of local people being considered.

“Since the temporary closure of Tatton ward in September 2010, East Cheshire NHS Trust has looked carefully at the long-term benefits to its patients of reopening it.

“But it is recommending permanent closure, with alternative, superior, facilities provided by Macclesfield District General Hospital and those soon to be set out in the vision for a new health and wellbeing centre in Knutsford.”

l Talk about this on our website at knutsfordguardian.co.uk.

 

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THE remaining meetings into the Tatton ward consultation will be held on the following dates:
l Monday, January 21, from 11am until 1pm at St Johns Church Hall, Knutsford.
l Monday, January 28, from 11am until 1pm at the AP Club, Holmes Chapel.
l Wednesday, February 6, from 11am until 1pm at Wilmslow Leisure Centre.
l Monday, February 4, from 7pm until 8pm at St John’s Church Hall, Knutsford.