Consultations

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) has launched a six-week public consultation on proposed changes to local fertility treatment policies, running from 3 June – 15 July 2025.

Currently, there are ten separate policies for Cheshire and Merseyside, which means that eligible people have varying access to NHS-funded fertility treatment, depending on where they live.

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, the organisation which is responsible for planning local health services, is proposing to replace these policies with a new, single policy. This would mean that in the future, people across Cheshire and Merseyside would get the same access to NHS fertility treatment.

As part of the policy, it is proposed that one cycle of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is funded for those who are eligible. Currently, between one and three cycles are provided on the NHS, depending on which part of Cheshire and Merseyside people live in.

At the moment, the local NHS spends over £5 million on IVF treatments every year, and it is estimated that moving to offering one IVF cycle would save around £1.3 million annually.

It would also mean that Cheshire and Merseyside was in line with the majority of other areas in England – 66% of ICBs only fund one IVF cycle.

A number of other changes are also being proposed within the new policy, to help standardise some eligibility criteria, and update the local policy to reflect national clinical guidance.

This includes proposed changes to eligibility based on BMI (body mass index), smoking status, age, the definition of childlessness, and changes to the requirement for IUI (intra uterine insemination) before IVF treatment in some areas.

A six-week public consultation is being held between 3 June to 15 July 2025, giving people the opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes and share their views.

People can download an information booklet and complete a short questionnaire on the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside website at: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/get-involved/current-consultations-and-engagements/share-your-views-on-proposed-changes-to-fertility-treatment-policies-in-cheshire-and-merseyside/

Anyone who would like to request some help to complete the questionnaire, or to request a printed version or an alternative format or language, can do so by phoning: 0151 295 3052 or emailing: engagement@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk

Dr Fiona Lemmens, Deputy Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “The NHS is currently facing serious financial challenges, and this means we’re having to make some very difficult decisions about how we spend our local health budget.

“We know that access to fertility treatment is a sensitive issue, but we believe that moving to a single IVF cycle is the best way to ensure that we can continue to provide this treatment for our population.

“We have drafted the new policy based on what we feel balances local need and affordability, but before we finalise it, we are committed to listening to feedback from our communities.

“We want to encourage people to share their views by taking part in the public consultation, to tell us how these changes might affect them, and what they think might help to minimise any negative impact.”

Once the consultation closes, the findings will be analysed and compiled into a report. This will be presented to the Board of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside for a final decision, likely in late summer or early autumn 2025.

Further information will then be shared about the outcome, and what this means for people who use fertility services. Until then, the existing policies will still apply and people can continue to access fertility treatment just as they do now.

To learn more and take part in the online questionnaire, go to: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/get-involved/current-consultations-and-engagements/share-your-views-on-proposed-changes-to-fertility-treatment-policies-in-cheshire-and-merseyside/

To stay updated on how this work progresses, people can also sign up to receive monthly NHS Cheshire and Merseyside email updates at: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/latest/sign-up-for-updates/

An upcoming Devolution Consultation Event will take place at The Mornflake Stadium (Alexandra Stadium) in Crewe on 26th March, between 6:00pm and 8:00pm.

At 6:00pm and 7:00pm, officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will deliver presentations outlining the details of the consultation. Each presentation will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes, followed by an opportunity for attendees to discuss any individual queries with officials.

For planning purposes, attendees are encouraged to confirm their attendance via Eventbrite link, though walk-ins on the day are also welcome.

Organisations and individuals are encouraged to share information about this devolution consultation event with their networks to ensure broad participation.

The consultation closes on 13 April 2025. The easiest way to submit a representation is online at consultation link. Please note that replies to this email will not be counted as a consultation response.

In addition, any organisations hosting meetings before 13 April where a short presentation on the consultation would be beneficial are encouraged to get in touch.

All interested parties are invited to take part and share their views before the consultation closes.

Cheshire East Council has launched a public consultation on its new Local Transport Plan, and your input is essential. This is a great opportunity for residents and businesses to shape the future of transport in Cheshire East.

The feedback gathered will help refine the plan to better meet local needs, ensuring a transport system that works for everyone.

Key details:
Closing date: 11:59 PM on Monday, 21 April 2025

How to get involved:

• View the consultation brochure for more details: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/LocalTransportPlan
• Complete the questionnaire: Cheshire East’s Vision for Transport
• Watch the short explainer video: Local Transport Plan animation

Your voice matters—thank you for taking part!

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is holding a public consultation on a proposal to stop making gluten free bread and bread mixes available on prescription.

Gluten free bread and bread mixes are sometimes prescribed to individuals who live with coeliac disease, or other diagnosed conditions which mean that people have to follow a gluten free diet.

The public consultation is a chance for people to find out more about the proposal and share their views. It takes place between 28 January and 11 March 2025. The feedback received will be used to make a final decision about the proposal.

Further details about the public consultation, and how to share your views, are available on the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside website www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/glutenfree

Since 2009, Cheshire East Council has had a Home Repairs and Adaptations Policy, with the most recent version of this policy published in 2022 (PDF, 856KB).

This policy sets out several ways the council helps disabled and vulnerable residents to manage their own care and wellbeing at home, by funding repairs and adaptations to their homes so that people can continue living in accessible and safe environments.

This help comes in the form of several grants and loans that the council gives to people, with some of this spend being a statutory requirement e.g. national government legally requires local councils to spend money in this way.

The council is proposing to amend this policy so it can meet the severe financial pressures it faces and to focus the use of council financial resources on statutory services, and on the most vulnerable residents.

Proposals include several amendments to the policy, including one which proposes a reduction in discretionary spending (Disabled Facilities Grant).

https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/VFZTEY/

Cheshire East Council

Re-purposing of children’s centres consultation

Purpose of this consultation

Cheshire East Council, like councils across the country, have been experiencing unprecedented financial pressures and are required to put forward proposals showing how they could balance its budget over the next 4 years. The proposals form part of the Councils medium-term financial strategy (MTFS) for 2024 to 2028 which was approved at a meeting of Full Council in February 2024. The Early Years Team (Start for Life) are required to contribute towards the reduction of the financial pressures (a savings target of £250K) whilst having minimal impact on services.

Since our bid for family hubs transformation funding in 2022 we have repurposed five of our former children’s centres into family hubs expanding services at these sites from an offer for children and families under 5 to a 0-19 offer and up to 25 for our young people with SEND. We are opening our sixth and final Family Hub in Crewe Lifestyle by September 2024.

We are now looking to re-purpose up to seven of the remaining children’s centre buildings and further develop our family hub outreach offer. Approval to start consultation was given during the 29^th April 2024 Children’s and Families Committee.

We are proposing to repurpose up to seven of our children’s centres that we have not remodelled into family hubs and utilise these buildings for education delivery purposes including extending childcare for children from 2 years of age, extending wrap around provision for primary aged pupils and delivering additional special educational needs and disabilities provision within local communities.

The consultation opens for responses from Monday 8^th July 2024 and be available for completion until 13^th September 2024.

The consultation can be completed online: https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/ChildrensCentres2024/ or respondents can collect paper copies from their nearest library / Children’s Centre. The link is also available on the consultation webpage on the CE website (Consultations in Cheshire East).

Cheshire East Council is carrying out a Direct Payments Policy Consultation and is seeking views from anyone in receipt of these payments.

The consultation will run for a 12 week period 20.11.23 to 09.02.24.

• Adults who have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from fulfilling basic activities to look after themselves
• Adults who are elderly or infirm
• Children or young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), for example those with learning disabilities

Cheshire East Council is seeking your views on several proposed changes to its Adult Social Care charging policy.

The aim is to review the way contributions are calculated in line with national guidance and update rates and fees to reflect the cost of current care prices.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks starting on 30 October 2023 and closing on 21 January 2024.

Have your say…

You can attend one of the events listed below:

· Thursday 9 November 2023 9am to 2.30pm – Capesthorne Room, Old Town Hall, Macclesfield SK10 1EA

· Monday 13 November 2023 9am to 2.30pm – Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Crewe CW1 2BJ

· Thursday 16 November 2023 1pm to 4.30pm (Drop in for 30-minute slots) – R1 and R2, Ground Floor, Westfields, Sandbach CW11 1HZ

· Wednesday 29 November 2023 9am to 2.30pm – Chamber, Old Town Hall, Macclesfield SK10 1EA

· Thursday 30 November 2023 9am to 2.30pm – Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Crewe CW1 2BJ

· Monday 04 December 2023 10am to 12pm – Oakmere, Spath Lane, Handforth SK9 3NS

· Tuesday 05 December 2023 10am to 12pm – Heath View, Heath Road, Congleton CW12 4BB

· Wednesday 06 December 2023 10am to 12pm – Mill House, Queens Drive, Nantwich CW5 5BX

· Friday 08 December 2023 10am to 12pm – Willowmere, East Road, Middlewich CW10 9HW

To book your place and to tell us about any special requirements for the event please contact Social Care Business Support and Finance: Email: ChargingConsultation@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Telephone: 0300 123 5102 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

If you are unable to attend one of these events you can find out more about the proposals and tell us your views by filling in our consultation questionnaire, which can be found at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ASCConsultation

You can email your views to us: ChargingConsultation@cheshireeast.gov.uk

You can follow the twitter feed at:

@CheshireEast

You can also write to:

The Consultation Team (FAO: ASC)

Cheshire East Council

Westfields

Middlewich Road

Sandbach, CW11 1HZ

If you prefer to speak to someone you can call Social Care Business Support and Finance on 0300 123 5102 and leave your telephone number; someone will call you back to deal with your query and collect your views. If you need information in a different format or language, or if you need an accessible version, you can request it through this phone line.

Cheshire East Council’s Falls Prevention Strategy aims to reduce the risk and severity of falls for people at risk in the borough; this includes people aged 65+ and those with relevant medical conditions.

Cheshire East Council would like to hear your views on the Falls Prevention Strategy. Their consultation was launched on Monday 16 January and will close on 23rd March 2023.

A copy of the strategy can be downloaded here: https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/TMYWK8/.

Your feedback can be provided via this link:
https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/FPSC23RS/

• Challenges post Covid-19
• Feedback received from residents and patients through Healthwatch Cheshire East
• The Health and Care Act 2022
• The Joining Up Care White Paper (Feb 2022)
• NHS Integrated Care System guidance
• The Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Partnership priorities

The main goal of the strategy is to improve population health and wellbeing whilst reducing health inequalities.

The strategy and details about responding to it can be found here: https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/88R5D3/

The Strategic Collaborative Cheshire, a group of voluntary and public sector organisations, has published a survey  (https://www.cvsce.org.uk/news/support-carers-people-end-life) to inform its work to improve palliative and end-of-life care. The survey takes 6 mins to complete

The Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey (U16 CPES) aims to find out what is good about the cancer and tumour care being given to children, and what could be better.

Children and young people (aged under 16) who have received cancer or tumour care in a Principal Treatment Centre, and their parents or carers, are invited to take part. Some children who are 16 years old may also be sent a survey if they received care within the past year as a 15 year old.

Results are published at a national and local (Principal Treatment Centre) level, on the U16 CPES website.

The Principal Treatment Centre within Cheshire and Merseyside is Alder Hey. You can view an overview of the 2020 results here.

Find out more:

https://www.cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/work/patient-experience-and-health-inequalities/under-16-cancer-patient-experience-survey