Lichfield and Burntwood residents are being urged to have their say on plans to close day surgery facilities at a local hospital.
Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has drawn up proposals to close the theatres at the Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital in Tamworth.
Falling demand for its services has led to the move with bosses saying the facilities “will not be clinically viable for patients in the future”.
Mark Powell, director of operations at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This has been a difficult decision to make and we have certainly not taken it lightly.
“The primary reason is the drop in demand over a number of years. The use of the theatre at the hospital has been declining since 2008 and it is simply no longer clinically viable for the future.
“But before we make the final decision to close the day case theatre provision, we want to hear from patients and residents, as well as GPs and staff.”
Surgeons currently operate on less than 30 patients a week, with a quarter of all theatre slots now being left empty.
The Trust said there were no plans to close other facilities at the hospital, including an X-Ray department, pharmacy and minor injuries unit.
Mr Powell added: “If less and less patients come to Sir Robert Peel for surgery, there will come a point where maintaining the necessary quality standard will be extremely difficult.
“The equipment used at the hospital is maintained regularly and is part of a rolling programme, but it is coming to the point where it needs to be replaced and this would involve a significant investment for the NHS.
“We believe making this investment would not necessarily be the best use of money, especially when the number of patients using the service is going down.”
A consultation over the planned closure will run until November 3 with a final decision being made in December.
For more details call Healthwatch Staffordshire free on 0800 051 8371 or visit www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk.