TIME is almost up for residents to have their say on radical plans to shake up NHS services.

The Healthier Together review could see the Royal Bolton become one of five specialist hospitals in Greater Manchester.

And with the consultation deadline looming, health chiefs are urging residents to put their views forward in a questionnaire.

Dr Jackie Bene, chief executive of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s really important that local people take this opportunity to give their views about the Healthier Together proposals and to put forward any other ideas they have for health care in Greater Manchester.”

Consultation events finish on September 30, but completed questionnaires will be accepted up until 5pm on October 24.

The proposals, which will see either four or five super hospitals created, could save up to 1,500 lives across Greater Manchester over five years.

Healthier Together plans to combine medical teams at all of Greater Manchester’s hospitals.

By pooling consultants across the region, Healthier Together says specialist hospitals will be able to carry out emergency and high-risk surgery for patients seven days a week.

Oldham, Salford or Manchester Royal Infirmary have already been earmarked to be “super hospitals”.

The consultation will decide whether one or two more super hospitals are created, and where they will be.

The options are Bolton, Wythenshawe, the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan and Stepping Hill in Stockport.

GP practices and community services will also be affected by the shake-up.

Leila Williams, director of service transformation for NHS commissioners in Greater Manchester, added: “As we are running consultation events and activities, and reminding people about this really important consultation, right up until September 30 it seems right that we give as many people as possible the opportunity to give us their views.

"No decisions have yet been made, and we will listen to what people say to us. These are the biggest potential changes to the NHS in a generation, so if you haven’t had your say yet, now is the time.”

Bolton was originally vying with Wigan to become a specialist site in the north west of Greater Manchester.

However health chiefs in Bolton, Wigan and Salford told The Bolton News last week they are working on an alternative plans to deliver general surgery across the three boroughs.

They have not ruled out Healthier Together’s proposals.

To read the consultation document and fill out the questionnaire, go to: healthiertogethergm.nhs.uk.