DARLINGTON Primary Care Trust is introducing a new schedule of meetings.

In the past, the trust has held separate monthly meetings for its board and professional executive committee (PEC).

But in future, meetings will be held on a quarterly rota, with the board meeting one month and the PEC the next, followed by a combined meeting in the third month.

Trust chairman Sandra Pollard said: "This should make things more efficient, and other trusts in the region are looking to us to see how it works. I am confident it will, and it will be a much more business-like regime, and help to release time so members can spend more time on improving local health services."

The combined board/PEC meeting will take place on November 18, at 2pm, in the boardroom in Dr Piper House, King Street.