Patients and residents will be able to have their say on the future of Penzance’s Poltair Community Hospital from next month.

The public will be able to ask questions about proposals of the future use of the hospital at Madron during December and January.

From Monday, December 9 to February 10, people will be able to tell NHS Kernow and Peninsula Community Health their thoughts on the hospital and how services may be provided in the future.

The options that people will be asked to consider during the consultation will be made public on December 9, but four public events have been arranged to give people the opportunity to ask any questions they have about the plans.

On Wednesday, December 11, a public meeting will be held at St John’s Hall, Penzance from 6pm until 7.30pm. People will have the opportunity to hear about the consultation options and to ask any questions. There will also be three drop-in sessions for people to talk to staff from NHS Kernow and Peninsula Community Health. All three drop-in sessions take place from 4pm to 8pm.

They will be held on Monday, December 16 at the WI Hall in St Just; Wednesday, January 8 at St Ives Leisure Centre; and Wednesday, January 15 at committee room one in Penzance’s One Stop Shop, St Clare.

Consultation packs will be available from December 9 from NHS Kernow, GP practices in west Cornwall, libraries, council one-stop shops, the West Cornwall Hospital and online at www.kernowccg.nhs.uk/poltair The options that people will be asked to consider have been drawn up with the help of patients, doctors, nurses, councillors and patient representatives to meet the needs of the community.

Dr Neil Walden said: “We want as many people as possible to get involved with this important consultation to ensure they have their say on what services may be provided in the future. It’s really important that people understand what we’re asking them to consider and to come to one of our meetings and ask any questions they may have.

“I want to reassure the public that no decision has already been made about the hospital’s future and that what people tell us during the next two months will be considered by NHS Kernow’s Governing Body when it makes its decision next year.”

Once the consultation has ended, a number of recommendations will be made to NHS Kernow’s Governing Body to agree. No advance decision has been made about the future of the hospital and the Governing Body will consider all options that are raised through the consultation.

The west Cornwall review can be read in full on NHS Kernow’s website at http://bit.ly/13FcDWB