CHILD obesity, dementia and mental health services were hot topics at a public question and answer session hosted by Healthwatch Bolton.

Members of the public put questions to a panel of experts at the Octagon Theatre on Tuesday for the second section of Healthwatch Bolton’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The independent health watchdog also released its annual report for the last financial year.

About 70 people attended the meeting and had the chance to quiz representatives from Bolton Council, Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester CCGs and Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust on health issues in Bolton.

Concerns over support for people with dementia and their carers, how hospitals and care homes ensure safe patient to staff ratios and health and social care devolution funding were raised.

There were also questions on changes to pain clinic services, cuts to charity funding, confidentiality of patient records, child obesity and waiting times for mental health treatment for young people.

In the last financial year, Healthwatch Bolton representatives attended 26 community events and 191 liaison and representation sessions.

The patients group held 10 members forums and its information and advice service dealt with 204 enquiries.

In Healthwatch Bolton’s annual report, independent chair Jack Firth said: “As the clock ticked into 2015 a surprise announcement put Manchester at the forefront of national developments in health and care as the city was given a devolution settlement for the sector.

“The challenges of hospital reorganisation suddenly seemed like a training ground for something much, much bigger.

“Healthwatch groups across Greater Manchester were able to accelerate the pace and put into motion a system of organisation that will allow us to speak as one to the devolution authorities.

“Healthwatch Bolton continues to play an active role in this process and we will do our very best to make sure devolution benefits the people.”

Mr Firth said that in the last year Healthwatch Bolton has focussed on how it reaches out to the public by establishing a readers group, launching community reporters and sending volunteers to see a play about the NHS.