Seniors support for health and care public meeting

Melksham Seniors group has backed the plan to have a public meeting on the future of local health and care.

The group, which represents the 55+ age group in the area says the public meeting will be a chance to hear in detail about the five-year Sustainability and Transformation Plan which is currently being developed for the Wiltshire area.

“We are delighted that the Town Council and also the Area Board are taking a far greater interest in Care and Health in our community area,” said Brian Warwick, the chair of Melksham Seniors.

“It is exactly what the Seniors have been striving to achieve; none of us can afford to ignore the importance of getting any proposed changes right.

“Have you asked yourself what do we think of when we hear the words “social care”? At least the crisis of funding may finally have propelled the issue on to the political agenda, but the term itself is still oddly obscure. To those who need it, social care essentially means a lifeline: a care worker to help you shower in the morning or cook a hot meal at night.

“Social care is a community wide need and not just a element of Council services that solely serves older people; none of us know when we are ourselves will have the need to call on the social care budget for support.

“We held our own meeting to discuss the Sustainability and Transformation Plan which was really well attended. Now I would urge everyone to attend the public meeting on 2nd March to find out more.”