Fareham's civic health chief has issued a rallying call for the town to be given its own community hospital.

Executive member for health and environment, Councillor Brian Bayford, believes there is a desperate need among the town's growing population for a wide range of health services with rapid access.

Health chiefs at Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust (PCT) are considering two options for future healthcare in the two boroughs.

The first would provide Fareham with a small unit at Coldeast simply to replace elderly services from St Christopher's Hospital, the relocation of Blackbrook Maternity Home and the replacement of the Sylvan Clinic at Coldeast.

The second option would see a wider range of services at Fareham.

But Cllr Bayford believes even this option would mean considerably less services than those offered at other community hospitals in the region.

He says neither meets the aspirations of Fareham residents who expressed their views at a series of public meetings.

Cllr Bayford added: "Fareham Borough Council supports the early development of a community hospital and wants the provision of a full range of services within the borough and that priority is given to the building of the Fareham Community Hospital.

"With the population of Fareham set to peak at almost 120,000 over the next few years, the majority of which will be to the west of the town centre and a long way from Queen Alexandra Hospital, it is vital the borough has its own community hospital offering a range of health services. We're only asking for a fair deal for Fareham."

Fareham and Gosport PCT have vowed to carry out a full and thorough public consultation before making any decision in their quest to work out the future of health services in the region.

Further public meetings will take place during September and October.

WHAT do you think? Should the town get its own hospital? We want to know your views. Call our Fareham office on 01329 285 503 or e-mail Lorelei Reddin using the link above.