Vouchers offered for NHS opinions

The NHS says it wants people to be involved in planning priorities

Residents in east London are being offered vouchers by the NHS as incentive to get involved in improving their health service.

NHS Waltham Forest said it would give vouchers worth £25 to the first 500 people who turn up to the public event to discuss local healthcare.

Residents who attend the event at Walthamstow Town Hall can redeem the vouchers at local shops.

The NHS insisted spending £12,500 as an incentive was "good value for money".

'Bigger and better'

Councillor Afzal Akram, chair of NHS Waltham Forest, said: "Working with local people is crucial to improve health and to provide the best possible services.

"Although we have held events in the past, we want this one to be bigger and better and for lots of local people to be able to tell us how we are doing.

"And whether we spend £12,500 now or less is good value for money".

Sally Gorham, chief executive of NHS Waltham Forest, said: "As we plan our health services for the five years ahead, my colleagues and I really want to hear the views of the community we serve."