What is One Halton?
We all want to get on with our lives, feeling fit and healthy and, as we get older, live in our own homes for as long as possible.
We also want to know that if we do feel unwell; are injured; need emergency care; are struggling with our mental health, or just want some advice on how to stay healthy – help will be easy to find and be available, in a reasonable time.
So, we when it feels like the health and care ‘system’ isn’t working for us, it can feel frustrating or confusing and sometimes we are left anxious, even angry.
At the same time, we also know that like many places across the country, health and care services in Halton are already under immense pressure, with increasing demand, as our community gets older and life, for some, becomes complex.
There are no easy solutions to any of these problems, but we do know that we cannot afford to carry on doing things the way we always have done.
During the pandemic we have seen just how much can be achieved and how much stronger we are when we all work together and when barriers and bureaucracy are removed.
So, as One Halton, the Council, NHS Organisations, GP Practices and Voluntary organisations that work across Halton to support the health and care of our community, have made a commitment to make the whole ‘system’ work better for people – working as one, to join up services, share ideas and resources and tackle the borough’s biggest problems together.
This new way of working will be set out in law, as part of changes happening across England to address health and care challenges.
If we get it right, we will prevent more people becoming unwell; keep people living longer and healthier lives in their own homes; and make sure that the right services are in the right places for those who really need them.
But we cannot make One Halton work without everyone in Halton also doing their bit – that includes us all thinking about how we use existing health and care services and also what more we can do to better look after own health.
And so over the coming weeks, months and years, you will be hearing much more about One Halton.
There will be opportunities for everyone in Halton to share their opinions, talk about how we can tackle issues together and to get involved in shaping how services are delivered.
It’s time to start working better together as One Halton.