The new and powerful organisation looking after grassroots Health services in Colchester has held its first public meeting.

Colchester Primary Care Group unites GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacies and will commission what services their patients need directly from who provides it instead of via the health authority.

Chairman Dr Laurel Spooner said: "Our aim is to improve people's health, not just health services because we realise that improving their health goes far beyond the health services."

Colchester Council, social services and North Essex Health Authority will also play a part in decisions.

GP Dr David Withnall said the PCG should make sure health care was evenly distributed to everyone in Colchester in hospitals, the community, surgeries and clinics.

He said the providers of services, mainly hospitals, should grasp that PCGs were in control, and will decide if a service is not good enough for patients.

But chief executive Brendan Osborne said: "I am sure our primary concern would be to ensure the services were improved and maintained locally."

Colchester PCG has a budget of £307,000 from the Government to pay board members, office staff and for administration costs.

The chairman is paid £15,000 a year, and board members £4,000 plus an extra payment of between £6,000 and £3,000 for "board compensation".

The chief executive and support staff are paid £172, 875. Although the health authority holds the purse strings the PCG oversees a £60 million budget.

Mr Osborne said the PCG would be closely involved in reducing North Essex Health Authority's £10 million deficit.

The group is looking in to becoming a Trust, so it will be independent of the North Essex Health Authority, and responsible for a multi-million-pound budget.

The next public board meeting is on June 8 at High Woods Community Centre at 9.30am.

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