Fire service signs up to NHS pledge

Dr Ian Wilkinson, Chief Clinical Officer for NHS Oldham CCG, and Ian Bailey sign the partnership agreement.

A UNIQUE partnership agreement between Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group has officially been signed.

The two public services will work together in a bid to improve the health, social care and overall well-being of Oldham residents.

The agreement will see teams from GMFRS delivering training on fire safety awareness to GP medical practice staff within pilot areas, as well as GP practices referring patients to GMFRS for visits, where appropriate.

Dr Ian Wilkinson, chief clinical officer for the CCG, said: “This agreement acknowledges and builds upon Oldham CCG’s commitment to view health from the perspective of its wider determinants and supports our pledge to work with other groups to improve the health and welfare of Oldham residents.”

The Oldham NHS and Fire Service Partnership Agreement will be piloted in two of the CCG’s eight “cluster” localities, covering residential areas linked to practices at the Integrated Care Centre in the town centre and across the East Oldham district.

Ian Bailey, borough manager for Oldham, Rochdale and Bury GMFRS, added: “The agreement responds to the six strategic aims of prevention, protection, emergency response, public value, principles and people.

“In particular, we hope it will contribute to the reduction in the number of emergency calls, deaths and injuries from fires, property damage, economic loss and damage to the environment.”