A HEALTH meeting about NHS changes in Winchester has been put back a month.

Local MP Steve Brine was due to chair the meeting next Thursday, February 27, but it has been put back because of the flooding.

The meeting, open to all, will now to be held on Thursday March 27, at a venue to be announced.

Major changes to the NHS are afoot with a new acute hospital proposed for the Winchester, Basingstoke and Andover area with knock-on effects for services at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital such as maternity.

Mr Brine said: “I am a passionate supporter of the NHS but we should be honest in saying it is far from perfect, locally as well as nationally, and I think we will need to change things sooner or later to make it a world-class public service for the long-term that delivers better outcomes when we fall ill.

“The clinicians have come forward with these plans so we must hear their rationale and have the opportunity to be fully informed as the future of stroke, emergency and especially maternity services are discussed.

“Despite spending more time trying to understand the huge complexities of modern acute medicine than anything else in recent years it is still the subject which worries me most and I know many people share my anxiety.  I hope this meeting will allow the clinical case to be put and give my constituents the chance to put their questions.”

Clinicians and managers from Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust will attend as well as leading GPs from the West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The event is free but people must register via steve.brine.mp@parliament.uk or by calling 01962 791110.