LOCAL people are invited to air their views on important health changes which will bring a state-of-the art quality hospitals service for the Millennium.

Modernisation plans, which include the transfer of gynaecology day case services to Leigh, are outlined in a public consultation document, produced to mark the beginning of a three month dialogue period which will allow people to comment before final decisions are made.

Director of commissioning for Wigan and Bolton Healthy Authority, Brenda O'Driscoll, said: "The authority is committed to consulting the people of the borough whenever it is considering significant changes to health services or the way in which they are delivered.

"We believe that these plans to modernise our local hospital services will result in a quality service to serve local people well into the new Millennium.

The plans include:

More day case services at Leigh Infirmary with the transfer of gynaecology day case services to the hospital.

The closure and sale of the vacated Billinge Hospital site to release running costs to invest in new services for Wigan and Leigh.

A special care and neonatal unit for newly born babies at the Royal Albert Edward and the transfer of obstetric, neonatal and gynaecology services from Billinge Hospital to the infirmary.

A new off-site outpatient and diagnostic centre

Copies of the consultation document are available from the authority's's information centres at Bryan House, 61, Standishgate, Wigan, WN1 1AH tel 01942 772711 and Lever Chambers Centre for Health, Ashburner Street, Bolton, BL1 1SQ tel 01204 360084, or by ringing Healthwise, the NHS Health Information Service Freephone on 0800 665544.

The document includes a response sheet. Comments can also be put in writing to the authority or by telephone to Brenda O'Driscoll on 01942 772788 or Healthwise on the above number before August 31.

A number of public meetings will also be organised.

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