Have your say on the future of the local health service

THE public are being urged to attend a pubic meeting on the future of health care in the area which is being held at the Assembly Hall today, Thursday.

The meeting will discuss the  five-year NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plan which is currently being developed for the Wiltshire area.

The public meeting will outline the plans and the implications it will have for local health care in the years ahead.

“On Thursday 2nd March, we will all have the chance to have our say about NHS Wiltshire’s Sustainability and Transformation Plan and I urge everyone to come along,” said local campaigner, Martin Pain. “This will probably be our last chance to say what we want from our Health and Care Services, our last chance to influence the type and level of services our community needs.

“So, please everyone, come to the public meeting organized jointly by Melksham Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council starting at 6.30 p.m. in the Assembly Hall. Come and support your community, hear what this new plan is all about, question the speakers about whether or not specific issues have been adequately covered and make sure that nothing has been missed.   

“The NHS Wiltshire STP will affect every person in Melksham, old, young and even those yet to be born – don’t neglect this opportunity to have your say because if you do, we as a community will have to accept what we are given rather than what we realistically need.”

The meeting is at the Assembly Hall, starting at 6.30pm.

“The plan aims to help meet a number of challenges faced by the NHS including a growing population with more complex needs; increasing demand for services and rising public expectations; the escalating cost of drugs and new medical technology; recruitment and retention of suitably skilled staff; and the considerable pressure on NHS and social care finances,” explained Steve Gray, Melksham Town Council’s town clerk.

“The plan will consider how to drive greater efficiency and improvements in quality across the health and care system and the need to get better at preventing disease, not just treating it, encouraging everyone to take responsibility to manage their own care in these changing and economically challenging times.

“In order to raise the profile of this developing framework and ensure that the Melksham community’s health and social care needs are understood within the context of the plan, the Town Council, with the involvement of Melksham Without Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Health and Well Being Theme Group, has arranged an open public meeting to be held on  Thursday 2nd March at 6.30pm at Melksham Assembly Hall.

“The meeting will seek to explain the status of the emerging plan, how it is being developed, the key considerations underpinning it and what it seeks to achieve. It is hoped that the outcomes of the meeting will be focused, helpful and constructive, and will serve to contribute to and support the Sustainability and Transformation Plan through its development and subsequent implementation.

“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come along to the meeting at the Assembly Hall on 2nd March to find out more about this important health and social care initiative.”