A GROUP of councillors will be looking into the state of urgent healthcare services in the county at a meeting next week - and public input is being sought.

The review was agreed after a nearly 16,000 strong petition, calling for a probe into A&E at Stoke Mandeville, was spearheaded by Cllr Julia Wassell last summer.

Buckinghamshire County Council's Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC) has the responsibility of calling to account the county's health services, and part of this remit is make sure that urgent healthcare services in the county are fit for purpose.

This refers to refers to all NHS services that are accessed by the public without a prior appointment, including the 111 telephone service, GP out-of-hours services, 999 emergency call services, ambulance services, and the A&E and minor injury units that receive urgent cases as part of the 'urgent care pathway' in Bucks.

Cllr Wassell said this week: "I think it's good the petition which attracted 16,000 signatures for an inquiry into A&E, and that has resulted in this enquiry into urgent pathways.

"It's very urgent for the public to attend this meeting."

The meeting takes place at County Hall in Aylesbury at 1pm on January 28.

Cllr Wassell said anyone who is unable to get to the venue due to transport issues could contact her, as she would try to arrange lifts where possible. She can be contacted on 01494 527128 or at jwassell@buckscc.gov.uk