Bolton Neighbourhood Engagement - Farnworth & Kearsley

Healthwatch Bolton undertook research on health, wellbeing and community priorities in the Farnworth and Kearsley neighbourhoods as part of engagement around the Bolton Locality Plan and Greater Manchester health and social care devolution. They spoke to 19 residents and stakeholders through a workshop, collecting 444 responses across a range of themes relating to community assets, access to services and future healthcare developments. 

Participants identified strong community assets including parks, libraries, community groups, self-help organisations and local support networks. However, they felt some community resources were underdeveloped or had been lost over time, including advice services, befriending schemes and support for people with disabilities and mental health conditions. Residents also highlighted challenges affecting health and wellbeing, including poor public transport, oversubscribed GP services, difficulties accessing out-of-hours care, inconsistent communication between services, and barriers faced by people with disabilities when using healthcare facilities.

Residents broadly supported the introduction of new roles in primary care, including mental health practitioners, community asset navigators, pharmacists and musculoskeletal practitioners. They felt these roles could reduce pressure on GPs, improve access to support and strengthen community-based care. Participants also suggested additional roles such as dementia specialists, family workers, grief counsellors and benefits advisers. A recurring theme was the desire for professionals to recognise residents as active partners in improving health and wellbeing rather than simply recipients of services. 

Healthwatch Bolton concluded that local people wanted greater involvement in service design and decision-making, more transparent and equitable funding, and stronger recognition of the assets that already exist within their communities. Residents felt Farnworth and Kearsley were sometimes overlooked compared with other parts of Bolton and called for better mechanisms to ensure their views influence future health and care planning.