A TEAM of women from Newton have been busy interviewing friends, neighbours and colleagues to get an 'inside' view of the health issues which concern local people.

The interviews are part of a project supported by St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority which aims to develop stronger local participation in health planning and services.

Funded by the Single Regeneration Budget working through the Newton 21 Partnership, the project's early findings show that local residents have broad concerns about their community's quality of life. These range from air pollution to Newton Cottage Hospital; heart disease to community care; and sports and recreation facilities to drug abuse.

The research group, based at the Newton Family and Community Centre in Park Road South, meets every Wednesday evening to discuss broader health issues. They are also appealing for local people, whatever their age, who would like to be interviewed for their research project.

The project is tied up as part of a broader scheme with the Health Authority to set up a Newton Health Forum and volunteers are now being sought from Newton to join the Forum and have their say in planning future health initiatives.

IF you would like information on this project or would like to be interviewed, contact Grindl Dockery on 0151 457 206 or Diane Coysh at St Helens and Knowsley Health on St Helens 457206.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.