Patient and Public Reference Group: Better Care Together

News - 28 January 2026

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCH) and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WHH) are joining forces and integrating their community and hospital services, forming a single organisation in April 2026.

Healthwatch Halton and Healthwatch Warrington have come together to create a Patient and Public Reference Group to support this integration and gather views on a range of themes.
Promotional graphic for the Patient and Public Reference Group (PPRG), run by Healthwatch Warrington and Healthwatch Halton. The image shows a group of NHS staff standing together, with text inviting people to join the PPRG and help shape local healthcare by supporting the integration of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust under the Better Care Together programme. Contact details and a website link are included.

This is an exciting opportunity to really improve patients' and staff's lives, while also strengthening and making their services more resilient. 
 

What is the Patient and Public Reference Group?

The PPRG is run by Healthwatch Warrington and Healthwatch Halton, who are the independent and impartial health and social care champions. It is led by Project Co-ordinator Michelle Downes.

What is the point of the PPRG?

This group is all about listening to local voices. Together, we’ll shape the group’s purpose, set the agenda, and encourage others to share their views on health topics that matter to them. Early themes include:

Want to get involved?

We’d love to invite you to join our new Patient and Public Reference Group, hosted independently by Healthwatch Warrington and Healthwatch Halton.

This group is all about listening to local voices. Together, we’ll shape the group’s purpose, set the agenda, and encourage others to share their views on health topics that matter.

We’ll meet in person and offer a hybrid option for those who prefer to join online. 

All we are asking is for 2 hours a month.

Your feedback will help shape how services are delivered in the future, making sure the new partnership reflects what patients and the public really need.

 michelle.downes@healthwatchwarrington.co.uk.

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