People with longer term or more complex health needs are being asked to help City of York Council design services for the future.

Existing customers who have physical and/or sensory impairments attended a strategy consultation event on Friday (9 November). The aim was to help create a strategy to help support people with longer-term or more complex health and social care needs.

Results of the 2001 Census show that over 30,000 people in York (over 16 per cent of the population) consider that they have a health problem or long term illness. A further eight per cent described their general health as 'not good'.

Keith Martin, head of Adult Services, at City of York Council, said: "We know that people with longer-term or more complex health and social care needs want services that ill help them to maintain their independence and well-being and to lead as fulfilling a life as possible. We hope events like the consultation  will enable us to shape future services with the help of our customers."