Community invited to engage with Western Trust on the future of health and Social Care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone

Western Trust press release:

The Western Trust are now underway with one of the most significant periods of engagement ever in the organisation as they strive to create better, sustainable and affordable Health and Social Care services across Fermanagh and West Tyrone. This entire project is about delivering better organised services for the entire region and the engagement period with all the local communities is seen as pivotal in achieving that aim.

Deputy Chief Executive of the Western Trust, Kieran Downey, who is leading the Pathfinder project, says “There is no doubt that there are a number of challenges which lie ahead but there are also great opportunities. By taking a detailed honest look at what we are doing and ensuring we hear the experiences and views of all the community and stakeholders, we can do this better working together going forward. It is vital to state again we have no pre-determined outcomes in this process and this is not about cost cutting exercises. It is about working with what we have to deliver services better for everyone”.

Tyrone GAA Manager, Mickey Hate, is one of a number of people in the region who have used the services and is very much endorsing this process to see the best possible outcomes achieved for Health and Social Care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

“This Pathfinder Project being undertaken by the Western Trust is the best possible way to find the best possible care for all the people of Fermanagh and West Tyrone. It is bringing healthcare discussions and engagement into the community and you should really engage in this process as it is the people across all the communities who really matter and it is very important to come forward, attend the engagement meetings planned and give your views on this. There is no doubt that when everyone works together you will always get the best possible outcome” commented the Tyrone GAA Manager.

“To better anything we have to experience it and talk about it. We have to find new ways of doing the things that we used to do. That is the same in anything and of course is the case in a sporting context – we can’t keep doing the same things or we will continue to get the same results. That is what the Western Trust are about in this Pathfinder project in finding the best possible service going forward for that is what the people of Fermanagh and West Tyrone deserve.”

In October and November, the Western Trust delivered twenty pre-engagement events and provided information on what Pathfinder is about and inviting the public to come forward and talk about their experiences and views on Health and Social Care in the region. This engagement began in December and will continue with a further series of meaningful engagement events in January and February 2019.

In order to ensure strong and meaningful engagement,  will be engaging with groups of up to 30 people. These events will include a presentation followed by ‘Cafe Style’ discussion in small groups and we will therefore hold successive group sessions at venues, as required, to ensure small groups and meaningful conversations and discussion. With the PHA, the Trust will then undertake a population health needs analysis to further inform our thinking. Members of the public will also be “involved” in the decision making groups and body for the project and you can get involved by putting your name forward as an involvement ‘Expert by Experience’ – details below on how you do this.

You can view this video and other information in relation to the Pathfinder for Fermanagh and West Tyrone Project at www.westerntrust.hscni.net/pathfinder.

If your Group, in the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Region, would like to arrange an Engagement Session as part of the complete Pathfinder Engagement Programme then please contact Chris Curran, Communications Manager, by email to pathfinder@westerntrust.hscni.net.

The Engagement programme for the Pathfinder (Fermanagh and West Tyrone) Project will see a series of events spread right across Fermanagh and West Tyrone throughout January and into February 2019. Below are some of the initial engagement sessions planned and there will be more events added spread across the region in the weeks ahead. Further details will be published here next week and on the online hub link above.

There are further events planned at venues across Fermanagh and West Tyrone and these will be published on the official Pathfinder Online Page at www.westerntrust.hscni.net/pathfinder on week commencing Monday 7th January 2019.

If your Group would like to be involved in any of the below ‘Open’ Public Engagement Events for Pathfinder then please email pathfinder@westerntrust.hscni.net. Or ask us for a specific Engagement Session with your Group