Bradford and Airedale health services were in the spotlight today when independent reviewers from the Commission for Health Improvement arrived in the district.

All four of Bradford's Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will go through a routine assessment - known as a clinical governance review - and the inspection teams want to hear from patients about their experiences of using services such as GPs, community nurses, health visitors, pharmacists, dentists, chiropodists and opticians.

The Commission - known as CHI - is an independent body set up to help monitor and improve clinical care throughout England and Wales.

PCTs are the bodies responsible for providing and commissioning health services as well as improving health and developing health services.

The Bradford City, Bradford South and West, North Bradford and Airedale PCTs will be under scrutiny in the first review of primary care in the country.

Chief executive of Bradford South and West PCT Dr Barbara Hakin said: "We all welcome these reviews as opportunities to help us improve services for local people and to identify things we are already doing well."

Lynnette Throp, chief executive of Bradford City PCT, said: "We are committed to being as open as possible and to working with CHI so we can benefit from an outside view of how health is working for people in Bradford."

Local people and trust staff will be able to discuss their experiences with CHI at meetings in the district in the week beginning February 3.

To arrange a confidential appointment, send comments or for more information, call CHI on 0845 601 3012 or email bradford@chi.nhs.uk quoting the name of the practice or clinic you are contacting CHI about.

A workshop for voluntary organisations will be held on Wednesday, February 5. For further information contact 0845 601 3012 quoting Bradford voluntary organisation workshop.

Dr Ian Rutter, chief executive of North Bradford PCT, said: "We would really encourage those who live in our area and use our services to go along and meet with CHI and take part in these reviews because we know we learn the most important lessons from the patients at the heart of our services."

Kevin Ellis, chief executive of Airedale PCT, said he would welcome the report which CHI would produce at the end of the assessment.

"We all face some real challenges in dealing with some of the health problems people face in the Bradford district but we know there are fantastic examples here already of innovative work which is making things better," he said.

Chairman of CHI Dame Deirdre Hine said: "What we plan to do is, effectively, give the health service a health check - and CHI is the first body to undertake such thorough reviews within the NHS."