WEST Dorset residents can tell health bosses what they think about plans to shake up services at a drop-in session.

Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is running a public consultation on proposals for a major review of how services are provided across the county.

The Clinical Services Review was launched as a response to major challenges the NHS is facing in Dorset. This includes a potential funding gap of £158m a year by 2020, a growing population, a workforce shortage and increased demand for services.

The proposals include a shake-up of acute hospital services in Dorset, which would see the Royal Bournemouth Hospital designated a major emergency care hospital and Poole Hospital a major planned hospital with an 24-hour urgent care centre.

Dorset County Hospital would be a planned and emergency care hospital, with the CCG claiming the services it provides would remain “broadly similar”.

Residents can have their say at Bridport town hall on Monday, January 9. There is no need to book a place and anyone wanting to attend is welcome to drop in between 2pm and 8pm.

Staff from the local healthcare community will be on hand to answer questions and direct people to how they can make their views known.

Healthcare staff will be on hand to answer questions and direct people to how they can make their views known. Copies of the consultation document and a questionnaire will be available to take away.

Dr Forbes Watson, Dorset CCG chairman, said: “We recognise that there will be a great deal of interest in these proposals.

“We would like to reassure people that their views will be listened to and nothing will be decided until we have gathered the opinions of local people and final proposals have been agreed by the CCG governing body.

Anyone who is unable to attend the Bridport event can still have their say by picking up a consultation document and questionnaire locally. Copies are available from a range of places including GP practices and hospitals.

A full list of where copies can be collected from is available at dorsetsvision.nhs.uk along with links to an online version of both the consultation document and questionnaire.

People without internet access can call 01202 541946 to find out where they can pick up a copy locally or request a copy through the post.