PEOPLE from across Sedgefield borough have had their say on the services they get from their hospitals, GPs, opticians, nurses, dentists and other therapists.

A total of 45 people attended the event at Jubilee Fields Community Centre, Shildon, organised by Sedgefield Primary Care Trust to find out what local people want from their health services.

Alan Gray, chairman of the recently formed trust and resident of Newton Aycliffe, was joined by his team of trust directors to hear the voice of the community.

Local people who attended the event told staff from the primary care trust that they wanted: Pain clinics; quicker access to family doctors; more community-based NHS services and clinics; more support for people who care for someone at home; more information about the different kinds of NHS services in the borough; high quality services; and to be listened to respectfully at more events such as the one they were attending.

Mr Gray said: "We learned a lot at the event. We heard from people who are happy with the NHS services we provide and from those who are not completely satisfied.

"The main thing is we have listened to people about what we need to do to improve NHS services for the people of Sedgefield borough."