People living in the Duchy are being asked to share their thoughts and ideas on how to make Cornwall a better place to be born, live and thrive.

More than 100 conversations are underway through the Community Conversations Engagement Programme to reach as many people as possible, with a particular focus on speaking to people facing the most health inequalities.

The findings from the discussions and an online survey will be used in the final version of the Integrated Care System’s ten-year strategy.

This sets out how partners from the Integrated Care System will work together to plan, deliver, and improve local health and care services.

Staff and volunteers from across the system are getting out and about across the areas to hear from various people, attending local events, and community groups, and visiting local hospitals and GP surgeries.

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Kate Shields, chief executive of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board: “We want to make Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly a healthier and better place to be born, to live and thrive and grow old.

“The future of our health and care services must be based on the experience, feedback and ideas from local people from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“Our community conversations will ensure we put the voice of our people and communities at the heart of when we plan, deliver and improve services.”  

Debbie Richards, chief executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:

“I echo Steve’s sentiments regarding the importance of listening to our local communities. We want to use these conversations to ensure we hear from as many people as possible about what is important to them, especially from groups who often go unheard or who find our services harder to reach.

“We are currently transforming our community mental health services, and engaging with people who use these services is vital to ensuring they get the help they need in the way that is most supportive to them”.

The team have visited the Isles of Scilly farmers market, council offices and health centre, with a return visit planned for later in the programme.

The team are attending specialist events to hear from people with hearing loss and lived experiences

Alongside face-to-face chats, people can also complete an online survey, running until the end of September 2023.

At the Community Conversations events, people will be able to see the priorities from the draft Integrated Care Strategy, put forward any new areas for consideration and give their feedback on recent health service experiences

Requests should include upcoming dates of community group events and be sent to: ciosicb.engagement@nhs.net