A PUBLIC consultation drop-in event into the future of health services in Dorset is being held at Weymouth Pavilion this afternoon. 

Residents are therefore being encouraged to go along and have their say and help determine how health services will look in the future.

After more than two years of work on its Clinical Services Review, the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) launched to consultation for 12 weeks on December 1.

Campaigners and health chiefs have long been disagreeing about the effects of a major shake-up to Dorset services - but they are all united in the message that 'this is your chance to have a say'.

And campaigners fighting to protect services at Dorset County Hospital have endorsed the message, calling for people to speak out about how important the Dorchester hospital is to them and their families.

Thousands of you signed a petition backed by this newspaper to urge the CCG to protect children's and baby services at DCH.

The proposals going out to consultation 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".

No preferred option has been set out for the future of paediatric services and maternity services at Dorset County Hospital, with ongoing discussions taking place between the Dorchester hospital and Yeovil District Hospital regarding the possible integration of services.

Another option is integrating services with those in the east of the county.

Members of the public are still being encouraged to share their views on the matter during the consultation.

Concerned families who have come to rely on the Kingfisher children's ward at Dorset County Hospital have spent months campaigning for services to remain.

The public consultation drop-in event is open from 2pm to 8pm.

Tomorrow there will be a similar event will be held at Wareham Rugby Club from 2pm to 7.30pm.