In Brief

HULL: A new organisation that will see city GPs deciding how health services are run has been given the official go-ahead.

NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been fully authorised to become the local commissioner of NHS services in the city.

The Hull CCG is one of only 19 nationally to pass the second wave of authorisations without any conditions imposed.

It will have a budget of about £362m and will plan and commission hospital, community health and mental health services from April onwards.

Chairman Dr Tony Banerjee has welcomed the news and said: "I'm proud the work already undertaken in Hull has received such a ringing endorsement by the NHS Commissioning Board.

"The new arrangements will put local clinicians at the heart of the planning and development of local healthcare services.

"Working together in shadow form for the last 18 months has given invaluable preparation for the challenges and opportunities presented by the new arrangements."

EAST YORKS: The Yorkshire and Humber region has the highest percentage of people in England who have been injured in a fall on an icy pavement, a new survey has revealed.

Commissioned by pedestrians charity Living Streets, the YouGov poll found that 75 per cent of people in the region thought their council could do more to keep pavements clear of snow and ice.

A total of 28 per cent in the region have been injured falling in the snow and ice.

Living Streets' director of policy and communications Phillipa Hunt said: "It's worrying that such a high number of people have sustained injuries because of icy pavements.

"This is a reminder to councils that keeping pavements ice-free and safe is every bit as important as gritting roads.

"Older and more vulnerable people, especially, need to access their local shops and services and local authorities have a duty to ensure footpaths are as safe possible."

EAST YORKS: There is still time to sign up for a weight-loss and exercise programme to raise money for Dove House Hospice's Love You 2 Appeal.

There are a total of 20 spaces on the course, but when the original deadline passed, only 10 people had signed up.

Therefore, those wishing to take part now have until Wednesday to register.

All participants need to do is ask friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you for every pound you lose in the £ For lb Challenge.

The challenge will start with personal trainer Rich McKeating. The boot camp-style exercise sessions will take place two mornings a week from 6.45am to 7.45am.

Anyone up for the challenge, who can raise at least £100 in sponsorship, can reserve a place.

Email loveyou2@dovehouse.org.uk with your name and contact number. Title the email "Love You 2 Bootcamp".

HULL: A city law firm is holding a string of fundraising events in memory of a colleague, who lost his battle against cancer.

Michael Mitchell, consultant and former senior partner at Graham & Rosen in Hull city centre, was 67 when he passed away in April last year and had worked for the firm for more than 40 years.

Now, his colleagues are planning to climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise funds for Dove House Hospice in his memory.

The Three Peaks challenge is set to take place in April, with fundraising events planned in advance.

A race night will be held at the Pelican Pub in James Reckitt Avenue, east Hull, on February 9, and a charity auction will take place at Willerby Manor in Well Lane, Willerby, on April 13.

Visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/rosensramblers to sponsor the team for their Three Peaks challenge.

Call Paul Mounce on 01482 314265 or email pm@graham-rosen.co.uk for more information, to donate a prize or to book tickets for the evening events.