An epic year for NHS Halton CCG

December and January are busy months for all of us who work in health and social care. Every one of us is playing their part to ensure that the best possible care, support and treatment is provided to those people who need it in the most appropriate place.

In many ways, what people in health and social care do in December and January is no different to what they do throughout the year. It is just that there are more demands on us all during the winter months from people who need health-related services. So, we want to thank everyone who provides health and social care support to people in Halton - whether paid or unpaid - for their effort and commitment every day of the year.

As we hurtle towards 2016, NHS Halton CCG can look back at 2015 with a sense of pride, as the following list shows:

• Achieved Guinness World Record for most people exercising to a fitness video
• £1.6m of additional investment was secured for primary care development via the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund - all the patient schemes are now live
• St Luke's Care Home was transformed into a centre of excellence for dementia care
• Runcorn Urgent Care Centre opened following a multi-million pound redevelopment
• The month long Creative Conversations exhibition opened at the Brindley following engagement with artists and local people
• NHS commentator Roy Lilley visited the Vintage Rally; he later described us as pioneers and vanguards in his blog
• Widnes Urgent Care Centre opened following a multi-million pound refurbishment
• We won the Primary Care Innovation category at the HSJ Awards for Wellbeing Practices
• One Halton programme officially launched

So, well done to everyone who has been involved in these achievements, as well as those that we have not listed. Finally, congratulations to our Chair, Dr Cliff Richards, who won “NHS Inspirational Leader of the Year 2015” at the NHS North West Leadership Academy Awards on 3^rd December 2015.

Simon Banks