Public meetings will give a progress report on a community partnership to improve health and social care in the south.

Investigations led by Southern Communities Initiative (SCI) began a year ago into how a community partnership would work. There were public meetings to assess community needs followed by discussion about how those needs can be met through collaboration with government and third sector organisations.

SCI co-ordinator Janet Bridle said: ’We heard what you said, your ideas, your concerns and we have condensed it to this non-exhaustive list: Isolation and loneliness; A community transport system; A one stop shop for local information; and housing.

’Our conversations have been very positive and demonstrate to us that there is a lot of scope for us all to work together for our future.’

The meetings are at: Port St Mary Town Hall, from 2pm to 4pm and at The Hub, Thie Rosien, Port Erin from 7pm to 9pm on Tuesday, February 27; Castletown Civic Centre, from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday, February 28; and Ballasalla Primary School, from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday, March 1.