AN appeal was this week issued to residents in the Okehampton area to come forward and have their say on health provision in the area.

Seven volunteers have been working together for the last eight months to try and become more involved in the health of the local community by standing on the Mid Devon Patient and Public Involvement Health Forum.

The network of PPI forums in England was set up to replace the old Community Health Councils. They provide a voice for patients and the public in how their health services are provided and to represent the patient perspective at a strategic level.

Neil Gilmour, of Exbourne, is one of the volunteers who has been working on the forum.

He said: ?We are just looking for someone who can spare two or three hours a week.

?It?s not a chore ? I wouldn?t do it otherwise. It?s interesting and you just feel you are in touch and in some way monitoring what service is being provided.

?You?re consulted by the primary care trust, being involved in the consultation process and by going to board meetings. It?s another opportunity to put the point of view of the forum.?

Mr Gilmour said members of the forum were made to feel valued and they worked ?extremely well? with Mid Devon Primary Care Trust.

And now there were no community health councils, the forum was the only formal way patients could make their views known, he said.

?It would be really useful to have one or two people from the Okehampton area join us ? I live out in Exbourne so I mainly deal with rural issues, so it would be good to have someone from the town.?

Forum meetings are held once a month. The work plan has so far included investigations into the lack of mobile mammogram screening services in Mid Devon; following a project to have back pain clinics in every district hospital; the proposal to provide a specialist stroke unit at Crediton Hospital and the unsatisfactory situation regarding NHS chiropody appointments.

Volunteers to the forum give their time freely, although all travel expenses and carer costs are paid.

The forum would welcome new members from all backgrounds, ages, abilities and experience, and is particularly keen to recruit people from the Okehampton area.

The forum is holding a public meeting in Okehampton next Tuesday, November 23, at 2pm in the Ockment Centre, at which the public can share views on health provision. All are welcome.

For more information, contact the forum advisor, 14 Bridgeland Street, Bideford EX39 2QE, 01237 424000.