HEALTH services and the use of non-clinical treatments in the north of Oxfordshire will be discussed at a public meeting held later this month.

Patient Participation Groups will meet to discuss how plans for future health services in the north of the county are being implemented under the North Oxfordshire Primary Care Plan.

There will be a particular focus on social prescribing, which links patients with non-medical sources of support in the community such as gardening or arts programmes.

According to the NHS, a study found an average of 28 per cent fewer GP consultations and 24 per cent fewer A&E attendances, where social prescribing referral services are working well.

North Oxfordshire Locality Forum, which is made up of members of Patient Participation Groups from the GP surgeries across north Oxfordshire, including Chipping Norton and the rural GP surgeries, will discuss the North Oxfordshire Locality Plan at Chipping Norton Town Hall on September 25, between 7pm and 9pm.

There will be updates on progress with the plan and opportunities to ask questions and discuss how aspects should be put into action.

The plan was developed by local GPs, practice managers, patient representatives and district council officers after discussions with local people at meetings and through surveys.

The meeting is open to all members of the public.