PATIENT watchdogs in East Lancashire have welcomed Government moves to force health trusts to throw their board meetings open to the public.

Health Secretary Frank Dobson has told all NHS trust chairmen he wants immediate action to put the boards at the heart of the communities they serve.

And he says he wants an end to secret sessions by directors, except in very specific and limited cases on which justification for secrecy would be tested.

Unlike many health trusts, Burnley has always held its meetings in public and more than two years ago extended this to exclude any private items from agendas. But Burnley Community Health Council chairman Frank Clifford, says the local trust has further to go - and will be made to open up more meetings following new legislation promised by Mr Dobson.

"At the same time as announcing no privacy at Board meetings the trust set up a new policy and strategy group, comprising all members of the board, which holds all its meetings in private.

"It is clear from what is discussed at this body that many items should be in the public domain and they will have to be in future."

He added: "Any body which is paid for out of the public purse and is set up to serve the public has a duty to keep the public fully informed and I am delighted the Secretary of State has acted on this."

Mr Clifford said he would like to see the changes extended to the East Lancashire Health Authority, which he believed was far too secretive.

A spokesman for Burnley Health Trust also welcomed Mr Dobson's letter.

Monthly meetings of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust have also been held in public since it was formed, while the CommuniCare NHS Trust also welcomes the public to its meetings.

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