MyNHS Walsall launches 1 January 2008

On the 1 January 2008, at the Walsall v Doncaster game at Banks's Stadium, Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust (Walsall tPCT) is launching the first ever membership scheme run by a Primary Care Trusts. The scheme, which is called MyNHS Walsall, is a new membership programme to give Walsall residents a much greater say in how NHS money is spent and how services are provided in the borough.

Paul Jennings, Chief Executive for Walsall tPCT, said: “In some ways MyNHS Walsall is similar to the membership schemes which many hospitals are running up and down the country. In other ways it is quite different. My NHS Walsall allows Walsall people to tell us what they think whenever they want to, to comment on plans before they become public, and to put proposals directly onto the agenda of the Teaching Primary Care Trust Board.

"This will happen in three ways.

"First, we will notify all MyNHS Walsall members of strategy discussions, proposed consultations, and other potential changes to services significantly in advance, and give you the opportunity to respond when decisions are quite fluid.

"Second, through the MyNHS Walsall website, www.mynhswalsall.net, members will be able to discuss and vote on a wide variety of health issues. The website will only be available to members, and we will respond to questions and comments actively.

"Third, all of the MyNHS Walsall members will be eligible to stand as members of the MyNHS Walsall Parliament. The Parliament will meet four times a year, with up to sixty members, and will be able to put proposals onto the main agenda of Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust's Board. All members of MyNHS Walsall will be able to vote to elect these parliamentarians.

"These three things will give a greater level of public accountability and patient involvement than has ever been seen in the NHS and it's happening here in Walsall, in response to requests by Walsall people.

"We are looking to recruit 10,000 members for MyNHS Walsall, with 1,000 in the first year. Membership is, of course, free, and we will also cover appropriate expenses of MyNHS Walsall parliamentarians."

Residents can join by texting  their name + NHS to 64446, going online at www.mynhswalsall.net or filling in one of our leaflets which are being distributed at various locations across the borough from 1 January 2008.