RESIDENTS have been invited to offer their suggestions about the future of nursing in their district.

Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) will hold the public consultation event at the Civic Centre, in Consett, at 6pm on Thursday.

The trust is producing a document which will set out how services will be developed, both to support PCT staff and to ensure that the highest standard of care is provided for patients.

Nursing services provided include practice nurses, district nurses, health visitors, school nurses, dental nurses and specialist nurses.

Residents have already been involved in the proposed development of community nursing services in the area, after more than 20 people attended an open event earlier this year to suggest ways in which the trust could develop its services.

Some of the things people said they wanted included the opportunity to get to know local nurses before they needed them in an emergency, that the trust ask for more guidance from the public about which services it provided and that PCT and local NHS services be tailored to meet individual needs.

Helen Tucker, director of operational services and clinical governance and head nurse at Derwentside PCT, said its task was to provide community nursing services which best met the needs of the people who used them and to give patients the chance to make suggestions for further improvements.

She said: "We hope to see many new faces at the event on Thursday as everyone is welome."

For further information, or to confirm attendance, contact Wendy Marley on (01207) 594458.