Groups of doctors, nurses, councillors and health campaigners met on Wednesday to share their ideas on the future use of Poltair Community Hospital.

The day-long workshop at the One Stop Shop in Penzance marked the start of the consultation to consider the hospital’s future use.

During the workshop, the invited guests worked together in small groups to discuss some of the possible options for the hospital and their practicalities. Listening to presentations and the thoughts of others, the guests discussed and agreed the options the public will be asked to consider during the consultation.

Using this information, NHS Kernow and Peninsula Community Health will now produce a consultation document containing all the options and any supporting information to help the public make an informed choice.

This will be shared with the public when the second stage of the consultation begins in December.

Neil Walden, a GP in Marazion and the locality lead for NHS Kernow, said: “The workshop marks the start of the consultation to consider the future use of Poltair Community Hospital.

“Absolutely no decision has been made about the hospital’s future, which is why it is really important to bring together people who represent patients when considering how services are delivered and the needs of the people who use them, both now and in the future. I am really pleased by the intelligent discussions people had, which will directly influence what the public is asked to consider later this year.

“We will also be running public events across west Cornwall during December and January to give people the chance to ask questions and express their views; everyone’s opinions will be shared with the Governing Body once the consultation has ended.”

Penzance Town Mayor Cllr Phil Rendle, who was one of the 48 guests who contributed during the day, welcomed the opportunity to get involved. He said: “This was a refreshing difference from the tick-box exercises we have seen before and I hope that people will be able to engage in the same way.”

The public events will be promoted nearer the time, but the public can keep up-to-date with the consultation progress by visiting NHS Kernow’s website, www.kernowccg.nhs.uk where a dedicated Poltair consultation page has been set up.

The west Cornwall review can be read in full on NHS Kernow’s website at http://bit.ly/13FcDWB You can keep updated with NHS Kernow and have your say at www.kernowccg.nhs.uk and follow @nhskernow on Twitter and Facebook.