THE people of Hampshire are to have more opportunities to share their views on a major modernisation of health services.

Responding to feedback, the programme for Hampshire Together: Modernising our Hospitals and Health Services will run for an additional week, ending at 5pm on Friday August 7.

A Maternity Focus Group will be held at 1pm on August 4, for pregnant women or women who have given birth in the last three years.

Another will be an open forum for people from across north and mid Hampshire to share their views on all aspects of the programme.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Together said: “We have received a lot of really good feedback from people across north and mid Hampshire since this programme of engagement began on June 1 and would like to say a big thank you to everybody who has been involved so far.

“We are aware of concerns that have been raised about the timing of this engagement period, including those voiced by Steve Brine, the MP for Winchester, in the House of Commons. We have listened and responded by extending the period of engagement to allow as many people as possible to have their say on this exciting programme at this early stage.

“Information about all of the upcoming events can be found on our website, www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk and we really want to hear your views. All of the feedback that we receive will be analysed and put into a report that will inform the development of proposals that are taken forward to public consultation – so your views will have a direct influence on the decision-making process.”

The Hampshire Together: Modernising our Hospitals and Health Services programme involves NHS and social care providers across Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Winchester and the surrounding areas. It is being led by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership of Clinical Commissioning Groups, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The programme includes the construction of a brand new hospital – but its impact will reach far beyond the walls of this new building, involving GPs, mental health, community care, social care and the wider voluntary sector, as well as acute hospital care.

People across north and mid Hampshire are currently being asked for their views on the way health services are provided in the area now and in the future.

Details of all the remaining events, including information about how to register, can be found at www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk/events. If you are unable to log on for any of the events, or would rather send your comments in electronically, you can do this by visiting www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk, where you can read a listening document detailing the challenges faced by the health system and the opportunities provided by Hampshire Together, as well as having your say using the online comment form.

To keep up to date with the very latest news from this exciting programme, follow Hampshire Together on Twitter (www.twitter.com/HampshireMOHHS) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/hampshiretogether).