ADVERTISER readers are being given the chance to have their say in a major debate on the state of the National Health Service in Worcestershire.

We have teamed up with our sister papers and BBC Hereford and Worcester to stage Your Health Your Future, a two-hour live radio broadcast in a bid to create a better understanding of the crisis facing the county's NHS hospitals trust.

The trust has announced more than 700 job cuts to try to plug a £30 million funding gap and the Alexandra Hospital is also in the firing line, along with Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Kidderminster Hospital.

Hospital trusts across the country are facing similar crises and all at a time when the Government has been pumping billions of extra money into the NHS.

So why are we in this situation? And what does the future hold for local health services in Worcestershire?

Audiences in the Your Health Your Future debate in Redditch, Worcester and Kidderminster will consist of health professionals, experts, retired consultants, politicians and patients - those who actually use our health services.

The Advertiser will be a central part of the debate and readers are invited to contribute questions and comments which will form part of the discussion on radio and online.

Editor Paul Walker said: "With the threat to services still hanging over the Alex, we want our readers to have a direct input into this important debate on our county's NHS.

"We want to hear people's views and we want them to share their experiences with us, be they good or bad."

Some of those submitting questions or experiences will be invited to join the audiences taking part in the broadcast on Thursday, June 22 from noon-2pm.

The radio station will broadcast the debate from three separate locations -- NEW College in Redditch, University of Worcester and Kidderminster College.

The discussions will also be carried live online at BBC Hereford and Worcester's website and televised in a live webcast available online at bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester

The debate will be followed by a live web discussion hosted by bbc.co.uk/worcester when it is hoped key players such as health ministers and NHS executives will answer questions from the public.

BBC Hereford and Worcester managing editor James Coghill said: "The future of local health services is arguably one of the most important issues facing us today.

"This exercise across four media platforms -- local newspapers, local radio, local online and local television -- will be the biggest and most significant attempt to create clarity and understanding and to provide answers.

"We do not intend it to become some sort of blame game, we're more interested in what's going to happen to our hospitals and other health services, not just in a years' time but in 10 or 20 years."

If you have a question or an experience to share during the debate, write to NHS Debate, Redditch Advertiser, Grosvenor House, Prospect Hill, Redditch B97 4DL or email editor Paul Walker at paul.walker@midlands.newsquest.co.uk