By Brian Dooks The Government is initially offering councils a grant based on the percentage population of each group within their areas but the authorities say its introduction would put a strain on budgets and other services.Hambleton and Harrogate say the financial implications may be too great to allow them to be involved.

By Mark Branagan The concerns about healthcare provision, especially in the remote communities of North Yorkshire, will come under the spotlight at the next meeting of the county council's scrutiny of health committee on Friday.Top of the agenda will be the public consultations on a Government White Paper setting out proposals for expanding high- quality pharmaceutical services and developing the role of pharmacists as a leading clinical profession within primary care.North Yorkshire has a high percentage of GP practices in areas such as Hambleton and Richmondshire, where 14 out of 18 of the surgeries fill their own prescriptions, compared to a national average of five per cent.Concerns are now growing about the impact of the changes in North Yorkshire's communities where traditionally revenues from dispensing help to fund extra healthcare services from the surgeries.These come when anxiety about local patient care is already high amid a review by North Yorkshire and York Primary Care

THE next monthly drop in for breast cancer patients at the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Catterick Garrison will be held on Monday, September 1, from 10am to noon. For further information call the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton on 01609 764622. (c) 2008 Evening Gazette - Middlesbrough.

CANCER survivor Brian Lambert decided to do something special for his 60th birthday to thank staff at Friarage Hospital who looked after him.

STAFF and patients said farewell to a hospital that is about to close after more than 130 years. The Rutson Hospital, in the High Street, Northallerton, was built in 1877 and will close next Tuesday.