Throughout February to April we are inviting our staff, the public and our partners to give their views on our future plans.

Each year the Annual Plan sets out the challenges and how we plan to meet these, while continuing to provide excellent quality services.

Over the past year, by focusing on getting care right, first time and using best practice, we have been able to provide better health and better value. We were awarded the safest hospital award while we also reduced our costs by £15m (7%).

We have achieved this, for example, by redesigning some patient pathways.

This has led to better clinical outcomes which means patients recover faster, spend less time in hospital and as a result fewer beds are needed.

The challenge now is to improve outcomes for patients while making £30m of recurrent savings over the next three years.

The Annual Plan for 2011/12 sets out how we will achieve this, including looking at patient pathways and our estate options.

We set out a range of measures focusing on improving:

• Avoidable mortality and better end of life care

• Long term conditions - self management, reducing admission and quality care

• Emergency hospital care

• The patient experience

• Patient safety

The draft plan also asks for comments on a range of issues, including:

• The balance of services between Christchurch and Bournemouth Hospitals and the balance between using our funding to maintain buildings and maintaining staff levels.

• Whether some specialist services can be improved by working more closely with other specialist services in neighbouring hospitals.

• How we can transform our services to reduce waste, delay and duplication; so that they are better for patients and staff alike.

Comments on specific proposals and new ideas are requested.

You can find out more in the consultation document at www.rbch.nhs.uk or from the Communications Department on 01202 704271. You can then give us your views:

• Online at www.rbch.nhs.uk

• In writing to the Chief Executive, Tony Spotswood, the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW

• In person at one of the following public meetings: - RBH, Lecture Theatre, Education Centre, 8th March at 6.00pm - Christchurch Borough Council, Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Christchurch, Tuesday 29th March at 6.00pm.

Your views are important to us and we look forward to hearing from you.

The consultation runs from Wednesday 2nd February to Friday 29th April.

A summary of the feedback received will be available at www.rbch.nhs.uk, or by calling us on 01202 704271, from Mid-May.