CHRISTCHURCH residents are being urged to respond to a consultation on major changes to the local hospital.

Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust Foundation is currently consulting on two different options for the future of the hospital.

A document explaining the options explains that currently the Christchurch site is only half-used.

In 2009, staff and patients on various wards were transferred to Bournemouth as part of a “transformation” programme aiming to deal with the issue of too many beds at the trust. That left outpatient services including breast, oncology and medicine for the elderly, dermatology, rheumatology and blood testing at Christchurch.

The latest consultation, which is part of 2011/12’s annual plan, gives two options for future development.

The first is to secure services at the hospital with spare land used for an older people’s village, a GP surgery, pharmacy and nursing home. Option two would see all services move to Bournemouth except the Macmillan Unit and blood testing.

The remainder of the site would become a larger older people’s village with assisted homes and the possibility of housing for key workers.

Councillor Denise Jones, elderly people’s champion for Christchurch said: “I think it is important that people do respond because we are in a very special situation with the highest number of elderly people and we do need a local hospital.

“It is important that in this day and age you look after the elderly and you are going to let the fight preserve its facilities and stop more closures.

“We will make sure that they don’t get away with anything that isn’t put through consultation.

“I would urge people to make their feelings known. The council will be setting the tone and leading the fight.”

A public meeting will take place at Christchurch Borough Council on Tuesday March 29 at 6pm.