THE Preston Primary Care Group will be launched on April 1 - one of four which will help prioritise the area's healthcare needs.

The groups have been set up by North West Lancashire Health Authority, as part of a government strategy to improve the community's health, by better distribution of resources.

And they are urging local people to put forward suggestions about how healthcare can be improved.

Functions of Preston's group will include:

Ensuring that healthcare reflects the aspirations of patients within the local community and contributing to the health authority's health improvement programme;

Promoting the health of the local population in partnership with other agencies;

commissioning health services from the relevant NHS trusts; and

Monitoring performances against service agreements.

The group will be responsible for the health of all GP-registered patients who are members of the group and any unregistered people living in the geographical area.

Judith Mills, Preston Primary Care Group chief executive, said: "We need time to develop ourselves as a new organisation to influence the provision of NHS services, but we are looking to tackle one local issue and one national issue this year.

"We are inviting suggestions from Primary Healthcare Teams, other NHS staff, social care professionals, voluntary organisations, employers, the local councils and the general public."

She added: "The key issues need to be achievable within a year, related to health services and not requiring a national policy change."

Comments and suggestions should be sent to Dr Shelagh Pavey, Chairman, Preston Primary Care Group, Lancashire and South Cumbria Agency (NHS), 3 Caxton Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9ZZ.

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