PATIENTS and carers are being invited to talk about their experiences of Gwent's mental and community health services as part of an inspection by health standards watchdogs.

The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) is looking at Gwent Healthcare Trust's delivery of these services and is planning three days of meetings with individuals or small groups.

The inspection is focusing on management, provision and quality of mental and community health services, identification of best practice and areas for improvement. It follows the CHI review of the trust's acute services in 2001.

The meetings are being arranged for yet-to-be-confirmed venues in Caerphilly on March 2, Newport on March 3, and Abergavenny on March 4. They will be private and confidential.

To arrange an appointment, to send comments, or to get more information, telephone CHI on 0845 601 3012, quoting the reference: Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. Comments may also be e-mailed directly to: yourviews@chi.nhs.uk

Part of a rolling programme that involves CHI visiting every NHS organisation in England and Wales, the inspection is carried out by a trained team that includes an NHS doctor, a nurse, a user of the service that is being inspected, an NHS manager, and a CHI manager who co-ordinates the process.

As well as the public, trust staff and organisations with an interest in the NHS will be asked to comment on issues they believe are relevant to the assessment. At the end of the process a report will be drawn up and published.

"The patient's experience of care lies at the heart of CHI's work," said CHI chairman Dame Deirdre Hine.

"We hope that taking part in a CHI review is a positive experience and one that everyone can benefit from. We want to hear from people who have used the services, as well as people who work in them, so we can help the NHS improve."