PATIENTS are being given the chance to say what their health needs are.

A questionnaire was sent to a random selection of patients in Durham and Chester-le-Street during April and May as part of a Health Needs Assessment Survey by the area's Primary Care Group (PCG).

The PCG is required to assess the health status and health care needs of its population in order to help commission the services that its population need.

In order to do this, it needs to obtain community and patient views on their own health status and how they feel they can be improved. The survey asks members of the public about lifestyles, their view of their own health, use of the health service and disease prevalence.

Durham and Chester-le-Street PCG chief executive Linda Templey said: "The information collected will not only be useful to the PCG in commissioning services, but will also provide an individual health status survey for the GP practices involved.