"Loss of valued weight management group (Why Weight)"

This story is being submitted by Healthwatch Oldham on behalf of someone who wishes to remain anonymous. Any response to this story we will communicate to the person involved.

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Health improvement Service Why Weight.. I’m disgusted that such a valued Service as Why Weight (Pennine Care Health Improvement Team) which is for people who need healthy weight lifestyle advice in Oldham has been decommissioned (as of 1st April 2015)

The Government keep telling us about obesity levels and that people need to lose weight and yet in Oldham valuable services are being stopped. Over several years I have built up a trust with the Why Weight Teams / people I have seen and they get to know you and vice versa. There has also been great encouragement and great ideas to try, they don’t judge and have been there to keep you on the straight and narrow. I knew when I was going to be weighed every Monday that I had to be good. Since it ended a couple of weeks ago I haven’t had as much motivation, I realise that this is partly (at the moment) due to a recent foot operation, but I know my motivation is suffering.

Why weight was a real benefit to me and others and provided consistently friendly advice to participants. Made me and others realise it was about lifestyle change not ‘dieting’ and if I had not attended I would not have changed my lifestyle and be where I am now.

All Why Weight participants have been give Weight watchers or slimming world vouchers for a period of 12 weeks which is appreciated but, it is not the same as going to the same person on a one to one who knows you, Why Weight / Slimming World are businesses and just a means to an end. Why Weight was person centred and the location (Oldham Integrated care centre) was very handy for everyone.

I would like to know what the plan is for the future and what will replace Why Weight and the Health Improvement Service which was decommissioned on 31st March.