RESIDENTS are being invited to a public meeting to tell health bosses exactly what services they want from Bicester’s new community hospital.

Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust is hosting a community forum to talk about its proposals to redevelop the hospital, in Kings End.

People will be updated on the project and invited to express their views.

The PCT wants to replace the hospital with a primary care centre — a hospital without beds.

It would include an out-patients clinic, a minor injuries unit, X-ray facilities and all therapies, but 12 beds would be bought in care homes in the town.

Hospital campaigner Les Sibley welcomed the meeting and urged people to attend.

He said: “It’s an opportunity to make sure we can put forward Bicester’s residents’ concerns.”

But he raised concerns the meeting could just be a formality and the PCT would not take on board people’s views.

He said: “One of the things the PCT has got to do is go through a consultation programme. We have got to be sure the PCT does not just push ahead with the same old plans and use this as a mechanism to say it has consulted with the public.

“The people of Bicester have already overwhelmingly rejected building a primary care centre with beds bought from a private provider.”

Mr Sibley said he would press the PCT to reconsider putting Cherwell District Council’s bid to build a hospital with beds back on the table.

The forum’s aim is to set up a group to give feedback on behalf of health service users.

Tony Burrage, PCT’s project manager for Bicester’s hospital, said: “It’s vital to the success of the whole scheme that we have community acceptability — this means listening to what people want from their local hospital.

“It’s important to remember we are committed to the scheme and committed to keeping all the existing services offered by Bicester Hospital, including the 12 intermediate care beds.

“We cannot yet advise what range of solutions providers are likely to submit.”

The meeting is on Monday at the Littlebury Hotel, Kings End, from 7-8pm.

More than 30 firms put forward a bid to build the new hospital and a shortlist has now been drawn up. A preferred bidder is expected to be announced early next year.