The North Yorkshire Health Authority held a board meeting in York recently on behalf of the York Primary Care Group (PCG).

It was an open meeting but I was the only member of the public there, apart from a handful of others representing local organisations or groups.

This new and important professional body is responsible for looking after our health, and has a yearly budget of over £100 million. A variety of pilot schemes were reviewed, from the Monkgate Walk-In Centre, to working with carers, cancer waiting lists and financial monitoring. A number of health schemes are still in early discussion and consultation stages.

It was unfortunate that this important new health group enjoyed poor support and no feedback from the public.

An effective channel of communication between the board and the public was missing on this occasion.

To enable the new PCG to have a voice, a stronger message must go out to the general public about its major role in the local Health Improvement Plan.

The next PCG meeting is on January 8.

David Hughes,

Elmpark Way, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.