A DEDICATED health team that aims to solve problems and give advice to patients across Selby and York has proved a major success.

The number of people contacting the Selby and York Primary Care Trust's (PCT) Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) has more than trebled, with more than 100 enquiries in April compared to 30 in September.

Since the service was set up nine months ago, more than 620 people have contacted the service for help and advice on a range of health-related issues. PALS is part of a national initiative to strengthen patient and public involvement in the NHS and to offer patients, relatives and their carers a clear, first point of contact with the organisation.

Some of the issues the PCT's PALS team have dealt with include simple questions such as 'where to find a local NHS dentist', to more complex inquiries involving NHS services and other agencies.

Pat Sloss, head of patient and user involvement for the PCT, said: "The increase in members of the public using the PALS service shows the message is getting across that our team is here to help.

"Feedback from those using the PALS service shows that they feel happier being able to go to one point of contact for advice and information."

The PALS team handles inquiries concerned with Selby War Memorial Hospital, St Monica's Hospital in Easingwold, Bootham Park Hospital in York and General Mental Health services.

The team also has information about community and district nursing, health visiting and GPs, dentist, pharmacists and opticians.

PALS aims to offer a listening service and facilitate the early resolution of patients' relatives' and carers' concerns quickly and efficiently as well as providing information to help people access PCT services easily, including how to make a complaint.

The PALS team can also provide information about other services such as housing and social care services, primary care service, voluntary sector support groups and can act as a gateway for patients and others wishing to become involved in shaping the NHS.

The PALS team can be contacted at the PCT on freephone 0800 5870856 or by email on : PALS@sypct.nhs.co.uk

Updated: 10:48 Saturday, July 12, 2003