Sheffield Local Involvement Network

"Interesting and informative with lots of active debate" was how Mike Smith summed up September's Discussion Forum.

The first speaker was Jan Sobieraj (right), Chief Executive of NHS Sheffield, who spoke candidly about some of the challenges our local Primary Care Trust faces and a new campaign they are lauching in October to encourage local people to take personal responsibility for how they use NHS resources. Speaking after the event, he said the meeting "was a great opportunity to hear the views of local people on our forthcoming work and to really understand the issues that matter to them".

Those present also heard from Dr Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health for Sheffield, who talked members through his new report on public health in Sheffield. He explained that while overall health is improving and people are living longer, life expectancy in Sheffield remains below the national average. He also talked about the differences across the City with those in the most deprived neighbourhoods dying up to 15 years earlier than those in the least deprived.

Penny Brooks-Cordon, Executive Director of Standards and Engagment at NHS Sheffield, was the final speaker. She talked about our forthcoming Action Group topics of care in care homes and unscheduled care and was pleased that we would be looking into these issues. The whole event was positively received. John Laxton's comment "thank you...I learned a lot from the presentation and the slides and the discussions after" was typical of many.