HEALTH issues will be in the spotlight next week as another Wear Valley group takes up the challenge to influence improvements in the district's dismal record.

The Wear Valley Community Network is inviting people to a meeting on Wednesday that could affect future decisions on services.

Organisations including Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) are leading efforts to promote healthy living.

The trust has teamed up with The Northern Echo, Wear Valley District Council and Northumbrian Water through a campaign called A Chance to Live, which has been praised by Health Secretary John Reid.

Speaking at the meeting will be the trust's chief executive, Andrew Kenworthy, director of nursing Christina Hawarth, information technology manager Shirley Chambers and public health director Dr David Landes.

Feedback from follow-up discussions will help influence the trust's policies.

John Kirkby, chairman of the community network, urged people to add their voices to the debate.

He said: "This is a huge opportunity to put the spotlight on health issues in the district, which are very important to us all. We have organised the event and invited the top people from the PCT to give people the opportunity to ask the questions they want and raise issues they want to talk about.

"The future of Homelands Hospital is on the agenda and we know people are concerned about that. This gives them the chance to make their views clear."

Other topics will be the trust's investment and strategy for health, the future of information technology and patients' records, and public health and inequalities.

People planning to attend the meeting, in the Four Clocks Centre, Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, at 6pm, are asked to contact community network organiser David Craggs at 2D, in Crook Business Centre, telephone (01388) 762220.