PLANS for the new Lymington Hospital are now taking shape, thanks to contributions from the staff who will work there.

Staff user groups, which include nurses, doctors, radiographers, administrative staff and IT professionals, have been helping the companies shortlisted to work with the New Forest Primary Care Trust on the private finance initiative to draw up their plans.

It is hoped that involving staff in the planning of the hospital right from the start will ensure a patient-friendly design.

A series of all-day sessions have been held where the shortlisted companies have shared their plans and have worked with staff to adapt them in line with clinical and patient needs.

Chris Rayner, lead nurse for surgery, said: "It's really worthwhile to involve staff in deciding how the new hospital will work.

"We have been scrutinising the designs and looking at them from an operational perspective. We need to make sure that we serve the needs of patients in the best way possible."