RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on the closure of Bootham Park Hospital and the future of York's mental health services.

Healthwatch York wants to collate people's views and is urging as many as possible to get in touch.

The group has vowed to ensure local people's views are heard, and to fight for answers to their questions.

Healthwatch York has been asked by City of York Council's health and adult social care policy and scrutiny committee to make sure residents' views on this key topic are heard.

The organisations's manager Siân Balsom, pictured below, said staff were keen to gather people’s experiences following the hospital's closure, and their hopes and worries about what comes next.

York Press:

She said “Following further conversations with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (which runs mental health services in York) and a number of local groups, I thought it might be helpful to outline what we are trying to do.

“Healthwatch York does not have a view on what should happen next.

"We do not wish to form a ‘Healthwatch’ view, nor duplicate the work of others.

"What we do want is to help collate local people’s thoughts, experiences and concerns and play our part in making sure what matters to people is heard whatever comes next.

"To do this in a timely manner will be challenging. We also appreciate how busy everyone is.

"We are asking for your help and good will to really make this work.”

Healthwatch York says it will add everything it receives into a short report and all comments from individuals will be used anonymously.

It would also like to include key messages from other local groups and they are also urged to get in touch.

Healthwatch York will make suggestions and recommendations "solely based on what people have said".

It will raise questions with TEWV to help clarify what is already known, and will highlight what more people would like to know Healthwatch York also highlight existing ways to get involved in TEWVs work, and engagement opportunities for people who use services.

Comments need to reach Healthwatch York by 5pm on Friday, February 12.

You can have your say by phone on 01904 621133, emailing healthwatch@yorkcvs.org.uk, tweeting @healthwatchyork or via www.facebook.com/healthwatch.york/ For more information about the work of Healthwatch York, visit www.healthwatchyork.co.uk.

- A minor alteration was made to this article at 11.50am to clarify that Healthwatch was asked to collate this information and not commissioned.