Whilst Annual General Meetings are usually a time for looking back at the previous years' highlights, NHS Northamptonshire chose to keep one eye firmly on the future by electing two Choose Well Champions.

Gordon Chandler and Harry Graham will carry the Choose Well message back into their communities, urging people to get the right healthcare treatment
at the right location.

Increased demand
There is increasing demand on healthcare facilities across the county with Accident & Emergency departments experiencing the worst effects. A significant part of this demand is unnecessary because some people are using services inappropriately.

Jane Meggitt, Director of Communications for NHS Northamptonshire, said: "Our AGM was a huge success and I'm delighted to welcome Gordon Chandler and Harry Graham as our Choose Well Champions.

NHS resources 
"It's increasingly important that the people of Northamptonshire understand that A&E is for very serious and life threatening situations like chest pains, heavy bleeding, problems breathing and serious burns - attending for any other reason could result in a delay treating someone who is very seriously ill as well as wasting valuable NHS resources.

"Gaining community support for the Choose Well message is the only way we'll educate people to use the correct service for their condition - our Choose Well Champions will play an important part in us achieving this."