THE influential GP group set to take hold of the purse strings for the millions of NHS cash in our region is holding a public forum on Thursday.

The Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), announced it was holding its second patient congress in Riccall, near Selby, following the “great success” of the first one earlier this year in York.

HIgh on the agenda is likely to be the recent announcement by NHS North Yorkshire and York that our region faces a £19million deficit in health funding. The CCG will take over responsibility for healthcare spending in spring next year.

Dr Cath Snape, Vale of York CCG Governing Body member and lead for patient and public engagement, said: “Our first patient congress held in February was a great success and I’d like to thank everyone who attended for their valuable feedback.

“It would be good to build on this success by encouraging even more people to attend, particularly those who wouldn’t normally come to this type of event, to see what it’s all about and get involved.

“Even if you’ve never been to an event like this before, we all have a stake in local health services whether that’s now or in the future, so please come along, listen to our plans and have your say.”

The public and patient congress opens at 6pm, with a 6:30pm start on Thursday at Riccall Regeneration Centre in Landing Lane, To book your place, complete and return a booking form which can be obtained by calling 01904 694789 or by visiting valeofyrkccg.nhs.uk/ValeOfYork/congress