MORE than 100 people gathered to share their views on the NHS in Worcestershire as a health watchdog held its annual conference.

Healthwatch Worcestershire, the independent consumer champion for health and social care across the county, held the event at the Pear Tree Inn, in Smite, near Worcester, on Friday, June 24.

Those who attended included patients and representatives from voluntary organisations, community groups and service users from all over Worcestershire.

They heard Healthwatch officials present their annual report and outline some of the work that has taken place over the last 12 months, before the floor was opened for an opportunity to discuss health and social care issues.

Audience members also had the chance to question a panel of local commissioners and providers from the NHS and Worcestershire County Council.

They included Cllr Mark Bayliss, cabinet member with responsibility for children and families at Worcestershire County Council, Susan Harris, director of strategy and business development at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, Paul Sheldon, chief finance officer of NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove and NHS Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Groups and John Burbeck, acting chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Peter Pinfield, chairman of Healthwatch Worcestershire, said: “The question and answer session was very interactive and at times challenging for the panel.

"It sparked a lively debate on many issues affecting health and care services and the challenges ahead.

"It allowed the public to put their views forward and have their voice heard directly by those that deliver the services.”