A LEADING health chief has pledged no hospitals will close but warned services could change as funding continues to squeeze the NHS.

This year the Morecambe Bay Trust and Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group are on target to make £30m savings but the health system is being challenged to make further savings to live within its budget.

Dame Jackie Daniel, chief executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust, pledged no hospitals will be closed and added there are no plans to reduce the number of clinical staff.

"They are a vital part of the health system, however to keep pace with change and demand, the services delivered in our hospitals and communities may change in the future," she said.

“We believe we can continue to make the savings without affecting the safety and good quality of the care we provide. We need to talk to the public in an extensive way again to ensure they can feedback their views on the work we are doing and our thoughts for the future.”

Now, members of the public and staff across the Morecambe Bay area are being asked to contribute their thoughts on health and care as part of a ground-breaking series of events.

In association with Cumbria Healthwatch and Lancashire Healthwatch, Bay Health & Care Partners will be using the innovative ‘chatty van,’ which will visit nine locations across Morecambe Bay.

For the past three years the region has been working as one of the 50 national Vanguard health systems, delivering new models of care.

During this time, many new ways of working have been implemented, reducing the numbers of people attending hospital, providing more care closer to people’s homes and integrating care across different organisations to make care less complicated and delivered in or nearer people’s homes.

Andrew Bennett, chief officer of Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We have come a long way in a short period of time, but we’re being challenged to go even further and at a faster pace.

“In addition we need to plan for the future health needs of our local population, address rising demand, and changes in technology and gaps in the workforce.

“It will also not come as a surprise to learn our financial position has deteriorated as funding levels have got tighter. It is still costing us more to deliver local healthcare across Morecambe Bay than we receive. For every £1 the Morecambe Bay health system receives, we are spending £1.20."

The dates and locations of the healthwatch chatty van visits are as follows: Sainsbury’s, Lancaster, 10am-3pm, February 26; The Festival Market, Morecambe, 9am-4pm, March 1; Carnforth Cenotaph, 9am-4pm, March 2; Tesco, Millom, 10am-4pm, March 6; Tesco, Barrow, 10am-4pm, March 7; Kirkby Lonsdale Market, 9am-noon, and Booths, Ulverston, 1pm-4pm, both March 8; Milnthorpe Market, 9am-noon, and Morrisons, Kendal, 1pm-4pm, both March 9.

If anyone is unable to attend any of the sessions contact: 01524 518638 or visit www.bettercaretogether.co.uk to find a survey to fill in or leave a comment on the topics being discussed.