NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group has celebrated a half-year milestone during which it has made significant steps to help people enjoy healthier lives.

The group, made up of local doctors, nurses and other clinicians, has taken over the role of planning and purchasing health services on behalf of local patients.

Bury Clinical Comm-issioning Group (CCG) has a monthly board meeting held in public and a live Twitter feed of discuss-ions is posted on the CCG’s Twitter account.

The CCG has also recruited representatives who gather and feedback the views of local patients to its Patient Cabinet, and an e-newsletter is com-piled to keep people up to date about its work.

Among service develop-ments already in place, GPs and care homes joined forces to offer more responsive care for patients, while a new approach to support patients at risk of memory loss has been launched, and a practice nurse facilitator appointed.

The CCG will be engaging with local patients and healthcare staff in relation to the ‘Healthier Together’ programme, which is focused on transforming hospital services across Greater Manchester, and is planned to be the subject of a formal public consultation in the coming months.

Another priority will be working with partners to implement Bury’s Mental Health Strategy to ensure that mental health services are responsive, accessible and available when and where they are needed.

Dr Kiran Patel, chairman and clinical lead for NHS Bury CCG, said: “We have some solid relationships with our partners and these will be put to good practice during the months ahead.

“We have achieved a lot, but there is always more to do. We feel ready for the challenges that lie ahead.”

n To find out about what the CCG is planning and how people can get involved: read the 2013/14 Patient Prospectus, which is available via buryccg.

nhs.uk.

Follow the CCG on Twitter at @NHSBuryCCG