THE county's health bosses have heard at first hand of what troubles the public they serve.

But both bosses and public came away with a better understanding of each other after a "Question Time" event hosted by Healthwatch Herefordshire.

One key finding on the night was the audience's perception of how the county's health partners were working together to provide effective care across the county.

A narrow percentage of those voting thought not

The success of the session had already prompted calls from both side for further such events.

Hereford's Kindle Centre was packed to hear from a panel headed by Healthwatch chair Paul Deenen and made up of Dr Andy Watts (chair and clinical lead of the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group); Richard Beeken (chief executive of Wye Valley NHS Trust); Dug Holloway (area manager - West Midlands Ambulance Service), Dr Nigel Fraser (chair of Taurus Healthcare); and Ruth FitzJohn DL (chair of 2Gether Mental Health Foundation Trust).

Each member of the Panel outlined the role of their respective organisation and its place in the county's health landscape.

An electronic voting system allowed the audience to assess key issues arising out of questions from the floor.

Those issues included the number of  NHS trusts, privatisation of the NHS, domestic violence, mental health, memory clinics, minor injury units, A&E  attendances, ambulances at the hospital, funding for drugs for illnesses and voluntary sector help for the NHS.

Voting results were:

Q1 Do you think you have a good understanding of who makes decisions about health services in Herefordshire?

YES:        53.9%    NO:  46.2%

Q2 Do you think we need both the Wye Valley Trust and 2Gether Trust?

YES:        87.1%    NO:  12.9%

Q3 Do you think that Taurus is an example of creeping privatization of the NHS?

YES:        46%        NO:  54%

Q4 Do you think we need a new approach to defining domestic Mental Health issues?

YES:        72.4%    NO:  27.6%

Q5 Are you aware of the Minor Injury Units and the role they play in the healthcare system?

YES:        67.7%    NO:  32.3%

Q6 As a result of the discussions tonight, do you have a greater understanding of the delivery of healthcare in Herefordshire?

YES:        84.4%    NO:  15.6%

Q7 Having been involved in tonight’s event, do you understand the role of Healthwatch and the part that it plays in the Health & Social Care system?

YES:        63.5%    NO:  36.5%

Q8 Given what you have heard tonight, do you think all partners are working together to provide an effective healthcare system across Herefordshire?

YES:        47.5%    NO:  52.5%