PEOPLE have been urged to have their say over plans to transform urgent and emergency care services across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.

The district's three local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCG, NHS Bradford City CCG and NHS Bradford Districts CCG have published a joint strategy which sets out how urgent and emergency care services in the district will develop over the next five years.

The aim of the strategy is for services to meet people’s needs, of high quality, clinically safe and affordable, easy to understand and use, be responsive and be joined up with other health and social care services.

A series of public meetings have been set up from September 15.

Dr Andy Withers, clinical chairman of Bradford Districts CCG, said: “We want people to influence the services we commission, and the future of urgent and emergency care services is a really important area which we want to get right for the long-term, so we value people’s views on the changes we want to make.

“Our strategy is about improving the way people access and experience services, building on what works well and proposing changes to the areas that need to be improved. There are many ways that people can have a say, and they can come along to one of our meetings to speak to CCG staff about the plans.”

Urgent and emergency care is a key focus for the NHS both locally and nationally as these services are being squeezed from all directions.

The CCGs say they are committed to developing new ways of working to match increasing patient demand and expectations of immediate access to services that meet their needs – 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

One of the most ambitious changes proposed is for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop a new major emergency care centre (MECC) to deal with major emergencies and build on its existing strengths and specialist services.

It also wants to upgrade its facilities by creating an urgent care centre to focus on minor illnesses and accidents.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is also committed to working with local partners on better ways to manage emergency care.

Its plans include developing new emergency department facilities; being more efficient in discharging patients and reducing admissions of patients with long-term conditions; and improving urgent care across the whole health community.

The CCGs say the strategy, which reflects the plans of all the local NHS and social care organisations involved, is not about reducing services, but about making sure that services are less fragmented and more easily accessible. It also has a strong focus on self-care, prevention and improved management of long-term conditions.

The meetings will be held on Monday, September 15, from 4.30pm at Carlisle Business Centre, Carlisle Road, on the following day from noon at Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road, both in Bradford.

Further sessions will take place on Thursday, September 25, from 2pm at Kirkgate Community Centre, Shipley and on the following day from 4.30pm at Khidmat Centre, Ryan Street, Bradford.