MEDICS in search of a cure for North West Durham's dismal health record kept a date with their MP at the weekend to add their views to a national consultation.

Hilary Armstrong, who is also the Government's chief whip, called the Healthier Lives summit with over 60 health professionals, patients, members of Primary Care Trust boards, people from drugs and alcohol agencies and volunteers.

Reports from the meeting at Helme Park Hall will go to Health Secretary Dr John Reid through Labour's Big Conversation programme seeking public views on major issues.

It was chaired by Ms Armstrong's husband Dr Paul Corrigan, a special adviser to Dr Reid.

Calls for more resources to go into preventing poor health, including long term funding, were among the messages she will take back.

Delegates wanted closer links between education and health, school sports facilities to be opened to the community, free entry for children to sports and swimming centres, healthier school meals, giving councils the power to ban smoking at work and in public places, extra school nurses and school screening programmes and better food labelling.