Northumberland NHS hits the road

Posted by Simon Honeysett on Oct 2, 08 03:45 PM in News

NORTHUMBERLAND, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust is aiming to become an NHS Foundation Trust (FT) and wants to recruit lots of Northumberland residents as members.

Trust chairman Jules Preston said: "Foundation trusts are accountable to their members for the services they provide.

NHS on the road

"So, getting the views of members will really be important to the way we develop our services in the future - and we want Northumberland residents to have their say."

Recently trust staff hit the streets of Alnwick to sign up local people, and over the coming months, as the trust works towards becoming an FT, its staff will become familiar sights in Northumberland's towns and villages.

On October 9, NHS staff will be staging an event in Morpeth town centre to mark World Mental Health Day and sign up local members.

Labelled "Happiness is..." the fun event will encourage shoppers to share what makes them happy in return for the chance to win prizes.

You also find out more about becoming a member of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust when its staff visit Blyth market on October 14, Hexham market on October 28 and Prudhoe's Co-op car park on October 30.

Over the coming months NHS staff will also be visiting Ashington, Cramlington and Rothbury and recruiting young members from colleges in Ashington, Alnwick, Berwick and Blyth. Almost 5,000 people have already joined NTW Trust, showing their support for the wide range of mental health and disability services it provides.

Membership is free and local people can be involved as much or as little as they like, from just receiving information about the trust and its services, to standing as a governor to represent other members.

You can sign up today by completing this membership form and returning it to Freepost NTW, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, Cherry Knowle Hospital, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB - postage is free so you don't need a stamp.

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