Thousands of people are being asked for their views on a shake up of health services.

A three month consultation on plans by Brighton and Hove Primary Care Group to change to a Primary Care Trust has been launched this week.

Thousands of documents are being distributed throughout the city outlining the proposals and how they will affect patients, residents, NHS workers and voluntary groups.

The new trust will work towards building closer links with Brighton and Hove City Council and voluntary groups.

The aim is to improve people's social circumstances so the chances of them becoming ill are reduced.

This means looking at areas including the environment, housing, employment and education in more deprived parts of the city.

Compared with the rest of East Sussex, Brighton has the highest percentage of lone parents, elderly people living on their own, unemployment and people living in overcrowded conditions.

It also has a large number of rough sleepers, HIV patients, children on the child protection register and one of the highest levels of drug related deaths in England and Wales.

PCG chief executive Gary Needle said: "It is a very complex issue which cannot be dealt with by one organisation on its own.

"This is why it is so important that we build closer links with other authorities such as social services so we can work towards improving health."

There are also plans to integrate services across health and social care so people only need one assessment of their needs to gain access to the right services.

At the moment, a hospital patient waiting to go into a care home has to be seen by representatives from the hospital and the council before finding a place.

Under the new system, the patient will be dealt with by one organisation only which it is hoped will speed up the process and be less of a strain on the patient.

Public meetings on the proposals take place on July 17 at Hove town hall at 10.30am and at the Brighthelm Centre in North Road, Brighton at 7pm on August 6.

Copies of the document are available at local libraries, surgeries, hospitals and clinics or by writing to Communications, East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority, FREEPOST SEA 2474, Lewes, BN7 2ZZ.

They can also be accessed at www.brightonandhovepcg.nhs.uk.

The closing date for comments is September 28 and if all goes to plan the new trust will be up and running by next April.