Public given say on NHS reforms

The forums are based on a US model

US-style town hall meetings are being hailed as the way forward for helping form public policy as the last mass health consultation takes place.

Up to 1,000 people are gathering in Birmingham to help draw up reform of community services such as GPs.

The priorities highlighted at the event will be fed into a white paper.

The government said the four regional events held to date had been a success and promised the model would be considered for future consultations.

While hospitals attract much of the headlines in the NHS, 90% of patients are actually seen in community settings such as at GP surgeries and sexual health clinics.

We have had people at the regional events not wanting to go home because they have got so involved Department of Health spokeswoman

Saturday's event at Birmingham's International Convention Centre is considering the issues raised by the events in Gateshead, London, Leicester and Plymouth which have attracted more than 300 people in the last month.

Those consulted said they wanted yearly "health MOTs" by GPs, more co-ordination between social care and doctors and clinics run in the community by hospital consultants .

Participants at the Birmingham event are being paid up to £125 each to attend to ensure a good cross section of society takes part.

They are being split into 100 groups to discuss four topics - patient choice, investment, whether to provide more community services and when the public should be involved in decision-making.

Vote

A vote is planned for the end of the day to determine the priorities.

A Department of Health spokesman said the style of consultation, which was introduced by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, had proved to be a great success.

"We have had people at the regional events not wanting to go home because they have got so involved in discussing what they want to happen.

"I think in the future, consultations are going to have to seriously consider this method as a way of engaging the public."

Traditional online and written consultations have also been carried out alongside the forums.

But some patient groups have questioned how useful the events have been.

The Patients Association has said out of hospital care needed to become more patient-friendly, but questioned whether paying people to take part was the "best use" of money.