A NEW forum the Patient and Public Involvement Forum has been created, with the Epping Forest forum one of many in the country, which replace the previous community health councils.

Each forum is made up of locally-appointed people to ensure that local people can help to shape and improve all parts of the local health services.

The Patient and Public Involvement Forum members of the Epping Forest Primary Care Trust are all interested in improving the health care provision within our community.

The main aim is to provide a forum for better patient and public involvement in local health services, and the forum members have wide ranging statutory powers to work with the primary care trust.

Forum members can visit any provision within the trust, report on and make recommendations for improvements on health issues relating to any of the services that the trust may provide, including hospitals, clinic and surgeries, And it has the right to be consulted on any proposals that may affect the people of the Epping Forest district.

A public meeting to hear more about the forum and meet its members is being held at Upper Clapton Rugby Club, Upland Road, Thornwood Common, between 7pm and 9pm on Tuesday, April 27.

The forum members are Barbara Blossom and Ron Braybrook (from Buckhurst Hill), Sue Leggate and Paul Cook (from Loughton), Margaret Fitch (from Theydon Bois); Chris Hudson (from Thornwood Common), Doug Kelly (from Fyfield), Maureen Winch-Furness and John Carr (from Nazeing).

They can be contacted through the Forum Support Organisation on 020 8432 0017. The Epping Forest Patient and Public Involvement Forum also has a local office, at Moot House, The Stow, Harlow.