PEOPLE on the Isle of Wight are being asked to help shape a new health and social care watchdog.
A public consultation has been launched on the new Healthwatch organisation, which will advise people on health and social care services and help them complain when services do not come up to scratch.
It will be run as a social enterprise, independent of the Isle of Wight Council and NHS, and required to re-invest any profits back into the organisation.
The council's strategic director for community wellbeing and social care, Ian Anderson said: "The creation of Healthwatch Isle of Wight presents residents of all ages with an important opportunity to help influence health and social care services on the Island by telling us what is important to them.
"Even if you are not using services now, it’s possible you or members of your family will do so at some point in the future so I would encourage everyone to take this opportunity to share their views with us. We can then use this information to make sure the organisation we commission meets the needs of the Island community."
Healthwatch will take over from the current watchdog, the Isle of Wight LINk, in April next year.
People are now being asked to help shape the organisation by sharing their views and highlighting health and social care services they feel are important.
A questionnaire is available at council help centres, libraries, children's centres and GP surgeries, and online at www.iwight.com/council/consultation/activeco.asp
The consultation will run until July 16.