2,500 want their say on hospitals

MORE than 2,500 Oldhamers have pledged their support to local hospitals.

Residents have signed up as Foundation Trust members to have a greater say in how the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which looks after the Royal Oldham Hospital, is run. The Trust is aiming to become an NHS Foundation Trust by the end of next year.

Trusts are now the main type of organisation established to run NHS hospitals. There are 144 in England, which will use new freedoms to develop the hospitals in their care.

Pennine Acute Trust and its hospitals — which include North Manchester General, Fairfield General in Bury and Rochdale Infirmary — remain part of the NHS but have much more freedom to manage themselves.

To date, PAT has recruited more than 9,500 public members from its overall area, as well as 9,000 staff members.

John Jesky, chairman of the Pennine Acute Trust, said: “We are really delighted and encouraged to have nearly 10,000 public members sign up to support the Trust. They can make a real difference by helping us make the right decisions on our future plans.”

Membership is free, without obligation and open to anyone aged over 14 or more. See www.pat.nhs.uk/foundationtrust.


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