DOCTORS who have taken charge of a £305million budget for health services want the public to quiz them over their new role.

Chiltern GPs, who took control of the purse strings in April as part of Government reforms to the NHS, want residents to attend a series of meetings to find out more about the new system.

The Chiltern Commissioning Group, which has taken on the duties of the abolished Primary Care Trust, is responsible for the south of Buckinghamshire.

The GP group is holding four events in July to meet with patients and the public to listen to opinions and ideas about improving healthcare.

Dr Annet Gamell, Chief Clinical Officer at Chiltern CCG, said: "We’ll be spending £305 million this year on health care so we want to be sure that this money is spent wisely. But we need the views of local people to see if we can make improvements or change our approach."

The CCG is a group of 35 GP practices in Amersham, Wycombe, and across South Buckinghamshire, serving a population of over 320,000.

The CCG will carry out the high-level planning of health services and their day-to-day role will be to allocate funding for hospitals, mental health, rehabilitation, learning disability and most community services.

The group's responsibility also includes emergency hospital care, and learning disability services. Dr Gamell said: "I would urge the public to take part in these meetings and tell us how we can continue to commission high quality health services.

"At each meeting people will be asked to tell us about quality and ways we could measure this so we know when services we commission are among the best and really do make a difference – we value the views of local people and would encourage them to join us."

Each meeting will involve round table discussions. A further meeting chance to quizz the GP panel will come on July 11 at Chiltern District Council from 3.30pm. This will specifically focus on integrated care.

Dr Gamell said: "We'll explain the benefits of integrated care which would see local health and social care services working more closely together to improve people's experience of care. It would also ensure patients were more involved in making decisions about their care so they have more control about their treatment - this is the way I anticipate the NHS moving forward in Buckinghamshire in the future."

For more information email: chilternccg@nhs.net or visit Chiltern CCG website at: www.chiltern.nhs.uk

The locality meetings are free to attend and will be held at:

• Southern Locality , July 3, 1pm to 2.30pm, Chalfont St Peter Community Centre, Gravel Hill SL9 9QX;

• Wycombe Locality, July 10, 1pm to 2.30pm, Guildhall, High street, High Wycombe HP11 2AG

• Amersham and Chesham Locality, July 11, 6.30pm to 8pm, Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham HP6 5AH

• Wooburn Green Locality, July 18, 1pm to 2.30pm, The Fitzwilliams Centre, Windsor End, Beaconsfield HP9 2JW