An eight-week period for the public to share their views on four big changes at Weston General Hospital ends at midnight tonight (Thursday) and people are being urged to make their opinions heard.

Weston Mercury: The hospital, in Grange Road.The hospital, in Grange Road. (Image: Archant)

Plans to change the hospital’s A&E department, operating theatres and critical care beds are being discussed by North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the organisation which decides which services the Weston-super-Mare hospital offers.

For the past eight weeks the CCG has been asking for public opinion on the plans to scale back the hospital’s A&E department at night.

The plans also include offering fewer emergency surgeries and more planned operations, while the number of intensive care beds could be reduced in favour of high-dependency beds, which are for slightly less unwell patients.

NHS bosses visited the Mercury office to answer readers’ questions on the plans, and three public events were also held within the area.

Weston Mercury: The hospital must make changes to ensure it has a viable future.The hospital must make changes to ensure it has a viable future. (Image: Archant)

The hospital’s chief executive James Rimmer said: “It was clear from these well-attended events there is a great deal of support and passion for the hospital, for our staff and for the services that we provide. I’d like to thank everyone who came along – your involvement will make a valuable contribution to the engagement process.

“If you missed the public meetings, it’s not too late to share your views. I urge everyone to submit feedback on the ideas to the CCG.

“Your involvement will help us to shape a stronger, more sustainable hospital which supports the needs of the local public for decades to come.”

The CCG’s chief clinical officer Dr Mary Backhouse added: “We have been listening to you and we will be using your feedback to shape and develop our ideas so together we can create a long term sustainable future for Weston Hospital for many years to come.

“I would like to assure everyone that nothing has been decided.”

Healthwatch North Somerset will compile a report filled with the public’s feedback and the CCG will use it to develop its plan for the hospital.

Dr Backhouse said: “Any proposal which recommends a significant change to the way services are delivered will then involve a 12-week consultation with you later this year.”

Have your say on the plans by visiting www.northsomersetccg.nhs.uk/wgh-engagement to fill in a survey, emailing wgh.engagement@nhs.net, writing to North Somerset CCG, Castlewood, Clevedon, BS21 6FW or calling 01275 546702.