What's happening

Oldham residents can now follow every NHS decision that affects them without leaving home. Greater Manchester Integrated Care posts each monthly board meeting online, letting people watch doctors, councillors and patient reps set spending and service plans for surgeries, ambulances and mental-health teams.

The meetings are open to the public in person too. Anyone who needs help getting in, whether that is a BSL interpreter, wheelchair space or travel costs, has only to ask and the care board says it will arrange it.

Beyond the main board, the Partnership Board, which brings together all ten borough councils and hospital trusts, also publishes its dates. That means Oldham folk can see how money and staff promised to their borough stacks up against neighbouring towns.

No prior knowledge is expected. Agendas go up a week in advance, and past recordings stay online so residents can check whether last winter's pledge to cut A&E waits at Royal Oldham was kept, or if the new mental-health counsellors in schools have actually arrived.