THE people of Newport are to have the chance this spring to air their views on the future of health services for the city, beginning with the launch of a six-point vision by the Local Health Board (LHB).

The public engagement process is set to start at an event entitled Your Healthcare - The Future, at the Newport Centre on Monday, March 7, and the LHB wants as many people as possible to contribute to the debate.

The aim is to significantly change healthcare services in Newport and the rest of Gwent during the next ten years to better meet patients' needs and aspirations. The six-point vision is for healthcare to be organised and delivered differently to allow patients to:

Have access to more localised services.

Be seen for treatment quicker than at present.

Stay as independent and healthy as possible.

Have access to safe, high- quality services.

Be accommodated in safe and comfortable facilities that meet their needs.

Benefit from more seamless services between family doctors and the local hospital.

Specific plans have not been drawn up, but problems with the layout and site of the Royal Gwent Hospital are well documented, and clinicians and managers are giving serious thought to its future.

The LHB has also recently revealed plans for three primary care resource centres for north, east and west Newport, to support GP practices and offer more treatments and care away from the hospital setting.

These centres and any changes to the way the Royal Gwent is run - or to the services it provides - must fit into a workable plan.

These plans, in turn, must fit into a Gwent-wide blueprint for modernised hospital and family doctor services.