An engagement exercise on the future of emergency medical care in Cheltenham is under way – here’s how you can have your say.

An idea to remove Cheltenham General Hospital’s emergency unit to make way for specialist planned care on the site is part of the discussion Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust wants to have with the public.

The Trust has re-iterated that no decision has been made, and the public and staff will be consulted on any significant changes which follow from the engagement programme.

Members of staff from the local NHS have already spoken to people in Gloucester, Coleford, Winchcombe and Cheltenham since last week from stationary buses, and will be holding drop-in events across the rest of the county until September 21.

Here’s where and when you can speak to them:

August 29 – Tesco, Stroud – 10am to 3pm

September 8 – Frampton Country Show – 9am to 6pm

September 11 – Cirencester Market Place – 10am to 3pm

September 12 – Moreton-in-Marsh town centre – 10am to 3pm

September 16 – Dursley town centre – 10am to 3pm

September 20 – Stow-on-the-Wold, market square – 10am to 3pm

The Trust have called the idea of the separation of services in Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal “centres of excellence”.

A public handout said creating the centres of excellence would reduce waiting times and fewer cancelled operations, ensure safe and consistent staffing levels and would improve health outcomes.

In the handbook, the Trust said: “If you have a life and limb threatening illness or injury that needs a 999 response, evidence suggests you have the best chances of survival and good recovery if you receive treatment in a centre with the right staff expertise, facilities and equipment.”

Currently in Gloucestershire there are full emergency departments at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Services such as general surgery – the surgery of the gut – and image guided surgery are among ideas the Trust wants to receive the public’s views on.

The period of engagement will take place through summer and autumn.

The Trust said it will set up a citizens’ jury, a public hearing a survey and drop in events to engage with the public.