IT’S a year since the successful launch of the Alton community support directory which is available free to all Alton residents.

The directory was produced by the patient groups of the Wilson and Chawton Park doctors’ practices and is designed to provide a list of voluntary support groups and clubs, both national and local, operating in the Alton area and who can provide advice, support and help to the community on a wide range of health and social issues.

As patient representatives, the two groups work closely with practice and community teams and recognise the value of these support groups to the community.

The aim of the directory is to help make it easier for health professionals to identify a specific group that could provide support for their patients.

The directory also assists in promoting self-help within the community for those needing additional support to complement health and social care provided by primary and community teams and local hospitals.

Available for collection from Alton library, Citizens Advice, Rehab, the Community Hospital and the four GP surgeries in the Alton area, during its first year many directories have been collected from these sites, providing evidence of its usefulness as a signposting tool to local health supporting services.

The directory has been designed to enable cost-effective updating, and the aim is to do this on an annual basis.

Funding for the original booklet came from East Hampshire District Council, The Lions Club of Alton and Wyeth Print Group, and there is sufficient funding left to finance a reprint of updated information.

To be considered for inclusion in the directory, e-mail details to [email protected].