L Wright (Letters, August 4) might like to know about Patient and Public Involvement Forums - set up in December 2003 to seek views of the public on their local health services.

All forum members are volunteers with an interest in healthcare in their communities and a desire to represent the needs of patients in the NHS.

We welcome members of the public who can spare a few hours each week to help in this way.

For more information, call 01273 765273.

Age Concern in Brighton supports four forums relating to: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust (BSUHT), South Downs Health Trust, Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust and Sussex Ambulance Service Trust.

The BSUHT PPI Forum has been concerned about Peel and Stewart Ward since members of the public contacted it in December 2004.

It was frustrated, in January, to be told by the trust that it could not visit as an internal review was underway.

The forum later received the report of the review and made a visit in early May. It remains concerned about elderly care wards and will be making follow-up visits to Peel and Stewart Wards and is always keen to seek more views.

-Sue Cleeve, forum support manager, Age Concern, 29-31 Prestonville Road, Brighton, ppif@ageconcern-bhp.org.uk