The NHS cares for people throughout their lives, through family doctors (GPs), local and specialist hospitals and community teams, and a range of services in between.
This consultation is about some of the services that help people to stay out of hospital, or help them leave hospital sooner with extra support (intermediate care services). It is also about care for people who are drawing near to the end of their lives.
The way that these NHS services are offered in the future may also affect the future of Castleberg Hospital in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, at Giggleswick.

The NHS services described in this document serve people living all over the Craven district, from Crosshills and Skipton in the south to Bentham in the north, and all locations in between. Away from the bigger towns of Skipton and Settle, the vast majority of the district is rural in nature with some isolated communities and limited access to public transport. There are higher than average numbers of older people living in the area.

Caring for local people

Six NHS organisations are involved in the care of people living in Craven:

• NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is leading this consultation. Working with NHS Morecambe Bay CCG, the CCG plans, funds and monitors the quality of services. CCGs are membership organisations, comprising the GP practices within their areas.

 

• Morecambe Bay CCG – which plans and buys services for people living in Bentham – came into being on 1 April 2017 and encompasses the boundaries of the former Lancashire North CCG and the southern region of Cumbria CCG.

 

• Through its community teams and hospitals, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust cares for people living in Craven.

 

• Similarly, the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust cares for people living in the northern part of the district.

 

• NHS Property Services Limited is the landlord/owner of Castleberg Hospital and some other NHS community buildings such as health centres.

 

• Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust provides podiatry, mental health and some specialist nursing services.

 

• North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) works closely with NHS services to provide care.

 

There are also some care organisations that are not part of the NHS but have contracts with, or work alongside it. These include the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope and St John’s Hospice in Lancaster, as well as a range of voluntary and community services. Family doctors (GPs) also have contracts with the NHS.

The services that we discuss on these articles can be used by anyone living in Craven, from the age of 18 years onwards.