People are being invited to share their views on the future of a hospital site and plans to keep essential health services in Halesworth.

A drop-in session is being hosted by the NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) following an announcement last week over the future of Patrick Stead Hospital and the Rayner Green Resource Centre.

The proposals include moving phlebotomy, therapies and services out of the main hospital building and transferring them to Rayner Green Resource Centre, located on the same site. However the relocation would mean the day care services offered at Rayner Green would be stopped and health funding would no longer be provided. The plans would also see the Patrick Stead building could closed and placed on the market.

Senior staff from the CCG will be in the Garden Room at the hospital on Monday, February 26, between 3pm and 6pm to answer questions and talk about plans for the site.

The drop-in has been arranged as part of public engagement the CCG is carrying out to help decide the future of the site.

Melanie Craig, chief officer of the CCG, said: “We would encourage as many people as possible to drop-in, ask questions and hear more about our proposals, which will secure important services for Halesworth for the future.

“These proposals come at an exciting time for Halesworth. We have recently invested £1.3m in providing out of hospital services in the area to ensure that patients can receive the right care as close to home as possible, and are also providing beds with care for those who require extra support.

“The next stage is to decide the future of the hospital building itself and enable it to move forward to the next stage of its life.”

A statement released last week by Halesworth Health, the League of Friends at Patrick Stead and Halesworth dementia Carers’ Fund (HdCF), said they were disappointed with the news.

Members said: “While we welcome the continuation of vital services such as phlebotomy, physiotherapy and podiatry in Halesworth, we are however disappointed and saddened at the closure of day care services currently provided in Rayner Green Rescoure Centre (RGRC).

“The excellent day care service which has been provided by the team at RGRC for over 20 years, and financially supported by the League of Friends of Patrick Stead Hospital, provides service users and their carers’ with a better quality of life and reduces the risk of unnecessary hospital admissions.”

People who are unable to make the drop-in event can share their views on the proposals until 10am on Monday, March 5 by completing an online survey – available at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/rayner_green/ – or filling in a paper copy available in Halesworth library.

The CCG is expected to make a decision about the site during its public meeting on March 22.