All local NHS care is ‘commissioned’ on our behalf by NHSGloucestershire (also known as the Primary Care Trust or PCT).  They also have important responsibilities for health promotion, local GP services and other primary care such as physiotherapists and district nurses.

Most of that NHS money locally is spent on three service ‘providers’, technically NHS Foundation Trusts:

• Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which runs Cheltenham General and the Delancey as well as Gloucestershire Royal.  The General faces many challenges but has a high reputation especially in specialist areas like cancer and eye care.  It maintains a full A&E department and the much-loved St.Paul’s maternity wing.
• 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust, the weirdly-named mental health service provider.  Well regarded by professionals, and with an improving reputation amongst service users and their often hard-pressed families.
• Great Western Ambulance Service, providing not just traditional ambulances but the high-tech rapid response paramedics who are now saving many lives.  The trust has struggled to meet national targets.

Other useful resources include PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service), the first stop for local complaints about NHS care.  Many charities also support our local NHS and provide extra care and support.  They deserve your support too.  Check out LInC, Maggie’s planned Cotswolds centre in Cheltenham , Sue Ryder Leckhampton and Cheltenham Volunteer Centre, as well as local branches of many national carers and patients organisations.  Local businesses like pharmacies also play an important role and can give you important advice.

Martin has also taken up many individual cases for local residents affected by local healthcare – even taking some cases to the Health Ombudsman for full independent investigation.  If you live in Cheltenham and have an issue you want Martin to take up call his Cheltenham office on 224889 or click here.