Page updated: 20 Aug 2009
Experts talk to vulnerable groups in Trafford
Health care experts have started talking to vulnerable groups of people in Trafford to ensure that their issues, thoughts and needs are taken into account when shaping future services.
The minority groups being consulted include travellers, the Polish community, immigrants, young mums, those with mental health problems, homeless people, and others who are not registered with a GP.
In-depth interviews with these groups are finding out about their expectations and experiences of health care and access to different services, and also asking them their views on how things might work better in the future.
The research has been commissioned by Trafford Integrated Care Organisation (TICO), a consortium that has been set up to explore how GP, community and hospital services could become more centred around the patient's needs.
TICO, supported by Trafford Council Adult Social Services, is working on a 'business case' proposal to examine how medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses and therapists, can work more closely together.
Emerging themes gathered as part of the public engagement and consultation activity is being built into the proposal, which will be submitted to Trafford Primary Care Trust (PCT) in early autumn.
Managing director of Trafford Provider Services Mark Brandreth has been leading on the research on behalf of the consortium. He explained: “It's really important that we find out what people think of our plans to transform health services in Trafford, and that we also talk to those people that can sometimes go 'under the radar'.
“Some of the people we've interviewed may not have been spoken to before about their views on health care, so they hold extremely valuable insights into how we might be able to do things differently, and better."
As well as speaking to vulnerable groups, a citizens' panel, made up of representatives from the voluntary and community sector have been involved in conversations with doctors and consortium members to explore any barriers to services that may exist, and to consider the effects any changes might have on the local community.
There are also opportunities for the wider population in Trafford to get involved and have their say.
A series of engagement events carried out earlier this year determined the 'People's Priorities' that are helping to guide the development of the proposal and a website has been set up for people to find out more or air their views: www.healthdeal.trafford.nhs.uk
People can also contact Trafford PCT's engagement team directly at integration@trafford.nhs.uk or by calling 0161 873 9554.
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