ONE of a number of county-wide events to hear local people’s views on health and care in Somerset – and explore how it could change in future – is taking place in Wellington next week.

Somerset CCG, the NHS acute hospital trusts, Somerset Partnership (mental and community health services), and Somerset County Council have jointly launched a programme called Fit for My Future to hear people’s experiences of health and care and gain feedback on emerging proposals of how it may change in future.

Five health and care areas are under review: planned care – usually non-emergency treatment – and cancer; long-term health conditions – such as diabetes – and frailty; urgent and emergency care; mental health and learning disabilities; and maternity and children’s services.

The events will explain why a new approach to health and care services is needed to help support Somerset residents to live longer, healthier and more independent lives. And, when people do need health and care support, how it might be provided in a way that best meets their needs, and as close to home or community as possible.

The CCG and its partners wants to hear the views, experiences and ideas of as many people as possible and hope people will visit the drop-in in Wellington on Tuesday (October 30) at the Arts Centre in Eight Acre Lane from 12.30-4.30pm.

Alternatively, if it is difficult to make the event, people can review the information at https://www.fitformy

future.org.uk/ and feedback their thoughts via an online questionnaire located in the ‘get involved’ section.