A POWERFUL new local user forum to spearhead the fight for greater public consultation on all health matters has been launched.

And the man who has waged a six-year campaign on the crucial issue has accused the NHS in Bury of being "steeped in secrecy."

Mr Don Mills is the first president of the Bury and District Health Service User Forum which was formally established at a public meeting in the town.

Around 30 people attended the launch at Bury Arts and Crafts Centre and endorsed a constitution embracing the new organisation's aims and objectives.

These are:

To provide the public with an opportunity of working together for the benefit of all persons who suffer from the problems of ill health, their friends, and families.

To provide members of the public with a platform to air their views to the providers of services on the one hand. And on the other, to provide service providers with a proper, responsible, representative, independent bona fide body with whom they can consult in their decision-making processes.

To develop a purely legitimate consumers of services organisation to to the exclusion of service providers and their associates.

In essence, the aim of the user forum is to press for far greater consultation with local health and social services bosses.

Mr Mills told the meeting: "This is the first time users have got together for themselves without being organised by the providers of the services.

"We want to encourage them to consult with the public in a fair, honest and open way. The health service is steeped in secrecy."

He disclosed he had fought for six years for greater "people power" within Bury and had even enlisted the help of the Local Government Ombudsman and Health Secretary Frank Dobson in his campaign.

Commenting on the need for such a users group, Mr Mills continued: "It is vital we fight together.

"Only consumer involvement to establish their rights will change things."

He said the rights of the public were enshrined within the Patients Charter and stressed the new user group would cover every aspect of ill-health.

Its chairman, Mr Mel Bradburn said: "Today is the beginning of a greater future for all health sufferers."

Meanwhile Mr Mills (68), of Toon Crescent, Bury, has decided to cease his active lobbying activities although he will continue to serve the new forum.

Six years ago, he established the Mental Health Service Combined Users' Voice.

And in Aril of this year, he and Mr Bradburn combined to set up the Bury and District Mental Health Service User Groups Alliance.

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