Our Pledge to the People of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust has laid down promises to the people of the city on how it intends to improve and develop services.
A plan has been drawn up to transform the health of Wolverhampton, providing a better quality of life and better access to services to everyone. But the Public Covenant is also a challenge to people and organisations in the city to work with the PCT to achieve the improvements.
The promises made by the PCT are:
- Making hospitals and healthcare safer by investing an extra £475,000 to improve cleaning and reduce infections picked up in health premises across the city.
- Reducing overall waiting times and providing better access to services, including family doctors, by opening another three GP surgeries, a GP-led health centre and provide more integrated services like those at the Phoenix Health Centre at Parkfields.
- Improving overall health and reducing health inequalities. An investment of £810,000 includes more money to improve cancer and stroke services such as increasing screening, speeding up referral times and implementing the new stroke strategy.
- Building the reputation of the PCT and improving public confidence in it. The PCT promises to work with local people to gather their views and comments to find out what is great about existing services and what is not so good so they can be improved.
- Preparing for emergencies. The PCT is investing £100,000 into preparing plans to ensure the PCT provides a quality healthcare service in an emergency such as a flu pandemic.
PCT chief executive Jon Crockett said: “We have launched the most ambitious programme in living memory to improve health and health services in Wolverhampton. “Our pledge is to save more lives and add quality of life for the people of Wolverhampton through easier access to services in locations close to where they live. “We will improve the public’s experience of the NHS by involving them and customising health services to suit what they need. “It is an ambitious plan and our pledges will only work if the public, our partners and providers pledge to do the same. “We need to work together to support healthier life choices and take the small steps to better health.”
The PCT works in partnership with a range of organisations to ensure the very best services for local people. These include the city council, police, fire service, voluntary and community sectors, as well as partners outside the city including NHS West Midlands, the Strategic Health Authority, organisations such as the ambulance service, neighbouring PCTs, and other specialist providers. Jon said: “The PCT and its partners believe people in Wolverhampton have a right to be involved in decisions about the services they use or that affect their lives. Our public covenant pledges give citizens an insight into our forward planning, and a yardstick to measure how we are performing.”
Enormous Investment
Wolverhampton City PCT’s Business Operating Plan promises ‘enormous investment’ in programmes to improve diet and activity in the city. This is part of its commitment to give children the best start in life – the biggest health concern in the city. Sexual health issues and teenage pregnancy feature high on the target list, as do healthy living initiatives aimed at helping people lose weight, quit smoking and cut down on drinking alcohol. Chief executive Jon Crockett said: “We want to transform health services in the city – this plan is bold and radical and meets the expectations of local people.”
People-Centred
Decisions on the future of health services in the city will be made by frontline staff, local communities and patients. Choices about improvements are being devolved to local level to make sure there is the greatest immediate benefit for patients, carers and the health service. PCT chief executive Jon Crockett said: “Reducing inequalities and achieving better health can only be delivered through people having a real say in the planning and delivery of services. In achieving this, the PCT pledges to operate in an open and transparent way and to be accountable to the public. We will continue to develop people-centred services providing care closer to home which will enable the public to lead as independent a life as possible and be developed for the convenience of people and their carers.”
