Press release
Patients learn about the future of Community Services in Bury
Patients and carers involved with NHS Community services came together at Bury Town Hall on Wednesday (March 16) to share their experiences and to learn about the services' future, as they prepare to become part of the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust on April 1st.
Also a guest was the Mayor of Bury and Non Executive Director of NHS Bury, Councillor John Byrne, who offered his appreciation and best wishes to community staff as they transfer.
From 1st April 2011, the community health services within Bury (Community Services Bury) will transfer from Bury Primary Care Trust to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. The move is part of the national Transforming Community Services programme (TCS) that will help to improve the quality of local health services and patient care.
The Trust will provide a comprehensive range of community services, close to or in people’s homes. These services will be provided by staff from a range of clinical and non-clinical backgrounds including District Nurses, Health Visitors, School Nurses, Podiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Dentists and Speech and Language Therapists.
The new combined Trust will provide community and mental health services to the residents of Bury, Oldham and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. It will continue to provide mental health services to Stockport and Tameside and Glossop, serving in total a population of 1.1 million.
Marie Forshaw, Acting Service Director from Community Services Bury said: "Community Services Bury is looking forward to becoming part of the prestigious Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust from April 1st. Although patients will see few changes to the way in which their patient services are delivered locally, we will be working together to ensure that services are delivered in the most holistic way, by taking account of the health and well being needs of our patients."
Mr John Boyington CBE, Chief Executive of NHS Bury added: "The transfer of Community Services Bury to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust marks an important new phase for the rest of the Primary Care Trust, which will concentrate on how we best commission services for the people of Bury. The PCT has hosted community services since it’s' inception in 2002 and during this time we have made great strides in modernising and developing the services to ensure they are patient focussed. I have no doubt that their collaboration with Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will allow them to continue to thrive and allow the health and wellbeing needs of Bury patients to be met and exceeded. I thank all the community staff for their hard work and dedication over the years and wish them every success for the future."
Patients and carers at the event were invited to become members of the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, which is free and means members can become actively involved in the work of the Trust and shape future plans. Members of the public can become a member by visiting the website at https://secure.membra.co.uk/penninecareapplicationform/
ENDS
Date: 18 March 2011
FOR PRESS & MEDIA ENQUIRIES: contact Caroline Dearden, Corporate Communications Manager on 0161 762 3106 or email communications@bury.nhs.uk