MENTAL health, sexually transmitted diseases and care for older people were just some of the issues raised by people in Southampton when they took part in a discussion with health minister John Reid.

Dr Reid visited the city as part of an initiative organised by PM Tony Blair called The Big Conversation.

The scheme sees ministers going out to different parts of the country to find out from the general public what they want to happen in their community.

The event took place at The Arts Caf in Bedford House, just off Bedford Place, and saw representatives from a number of local patient support and community groups putting their views on health forward.

Mr Reid said: "What we are trying to do is to take a system that has been fair to everyone for 50 years and make it more personal.

One issue raised was the government's negative focus on mental health issues.

Terry Hammond, who works for mental health charity Rethink and has a 25-year-old son with schizophrenia, said: "I feel disappointed with this government's obsession on focusing on mental health with public safety. What saddens me about that is that it reinforces one of the prime problems of mental health, which is stigma."

Local nurse and lecturer Alison Farmer said she was concerned by the government's introduction of waiting time targets for accident and emergency departments.

She said: "Since the introduction of the waiting time targets in accident and emergency, health care is very heavily influenced by whether or not that patient is about to breach the four-hour waiting time."

She added the real problem was lack of beds. Other issues raised included the levels of care for patients with sexually transmitted infections and the quality of care for older people in their own homes.

But Southampton GP Dr David Paynton said he was encouraged by the recent changes in the NHS.

He said: "I think the reforms are exciting. They are challenging and they're very tough, but if we don't keep moving on this, I question the future of the NHS."