Around 100 people gathered for Healthtalk 2015
Published Wednesday 25 November 2015 at 15:42
A health event hosted by Blackburn with Darwen’s Health and Wellbeing Board was a big success this week with over 100 people taking part.
‘Healthtalk’ took place at Darwen Leisure Centre on Tuesday, November 24 and featured a structured public engagement session for an invited group of around 80 Blackburn with Darwen residents to capture their views and experiences about health and wellbeing.
The main topic of discussion at this year’s event was Integrated Care. This joined up approach to healthcare finds The Council, NHS organisations and the voluntary sector all working together to get those with multiple health needs the help they need closer to home and all in one place.
Healthtalk was a chance for residents from all over the borough to directly influence local plans for integrated care and come up with ideas to create and sustain health where they live.
As well as residents, several organisations were also represented at the event including Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group, East Lancashire Hospital Trust and Age UK.
Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board were on hand to answer questions and offer advice and guidance as the group discussions with residents took place.
On the day there were also information stalls from a number of organisations and initiatives including: Healthwatch, The Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership, the Wellbeing Service and Your Call.
Councillor Mohammed Khan, Chair of the Blackburn with Darwen Health and Wellbeing Board, said:
I’m delighted this year’s Healthtalk was a success with many residents coming from all across the borough to take part in the engagement session. In Blackburn with Darwen we are working together to keep people as well as possible. We want to make sure that the residents of Blackburn with Darwen can live longer and live better and integrated care plays a major part in that.
Graham Burgess, Chair of Blackburn with Darwen CCG, said:
I’m pleased that engagement is strong in Blackburn with Darwen and the attendance at the Healthtalk event clearly showed that. It is important that we listen to the views of our patients and use what they tell us to shape our services in the future.