What's happening

Oldham residents can now track every NHS decision that affects them without leaving the house. Greater Manchester Integrated Care has opened its monthly board meetings to the public, letting people hear first-hand how money and staff are being moved around local hospitals, GPs and mental-health teams.

The meetings happen every four weeks and are staged so anyone can walk in, dial in, or ask for help to get there. Interpreters, wheelchair access and travel costs can be arranged if requested in advance, removing the usual barriers that keep residents away from health discussions.

Beyond the main board, the same noticeboard lists separate sessions run by the wider Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership. These cover bigger cross-borough issues such as ambulance hand-over delays, hospital waiting lists and plans for new neighbourhood clinics that could land in Oldham.

There is no need to speak; residents can simply listen. Anyone who does want to question leaders must submit their query ahead of the session so it can be answered on the day. Minutes are published within two weeks, giving a paper trail of what was promised and what was sidelined.