People in Bradford are being urged to have their say in shaping health services across the district by joining new patient groups.

Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is holding a series of events in partnership with Healthwatch Bradford and District as part of Patient Group Awareness Week.

Sessions on Monday and Wednesday of next week will see clinical leaders in the city explain how people can have a say in the way health services are planned and run, how they can join a patient group and find out more about the new patient networks which are being set up in the area.

Colin Philpott, a lay member for patient and public involvement (PPI) at the Districts CCG, will join colleagues from the new body, as well as members of patient groups, to welcome people to the events.

“We want our patients to be at the heart of services, and to make sure that their views are heard and have influence,” he said.

“It’s very easy to get involved in a patient group and start to make a difference to how local services are planned. Just come along to find out more at the events.

“I got involved in the CCG to help ensure that the voices of patients and the wider public are brought to bear on decisions about the NHS – and that’s exactly what can happen when people get involved, especially as part of patient groups.”

Bradford Districts CCG, which serves a patient population of 330,115, is one of three CCGs covering the Bradford district, which have been developed as part of the NHS reforms in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 When it was launched on April 1, it said speaking to patients and communities was a ‘key priority’ and wanted to seek people’s views to help shape the services it commissions.

Dr Richard Haddad, patient engagement lead for Bradford Districts CCG, said: “This is the launch of our patient networks which aim to bring together the already established patient groups.

“We hope they will help us to discuss some of the wider issues in the NHS as well as GP services at local practices.

“These meetings are a chance for local people to consider how the networks could work: there will be a presentation around a proposed model and discussion groups. We’ll also be launching a virtual network which will reach out to different communities, and complement our patient engagement work.”

The first event will be held at Park Lane Community Centre on Park Lane on Monday from 5.30pm-7.30pm.

It will be followed by a second on Wednesday at Carlisle Business Centre on Carlisle Road from 12.30pm-2.30pm.

To book a place call (01274) 256062 or email jennifer.white@wsybcsu.nhs.uk.

For more information about getting involved in the CCG, call (01274) 237719 or fill in the feedback forms at: bradforddistrictsccg.nhs.uk/get-involved.