WORK on Haltwhistle’s new integrated health and social care scheme is set to start early in 2012.

The public is now being asked to put forward their ideas for the complex, with a series of public consultations getting under way on June 23 at venues in and around Haltwhistle.

Northumberland County Council Executive Member for Adult Care and Wellbeing, Coun Ian Lindley, said yesterday: “In terms of public engagement, we really want to maximise that and get people involved in the design aesthetics.

“It’s nearly unique in England and it’s very important that we come up with a design that is reflective of people’s feelings about Haltwhistle.”

The County Council and Northumbria Health Foundation Trust have combined to formulate the integrated care scheme which will feature a 15-bed replacement for the War Memorial Hospital and 12 extra-care rented flats with communal facilities, replacing the former Greenholme Care Home which closed in 2009.

Drop-in sessions for the public to ask questions and put forward ideas have been fixed for Haltwhistle, Bellingham, Hexham, Allendale and Haydon Bridge.

The sessions are at Haltwhistle Methodist Church Hall on Thursday 23 June from 10- noon and Thursday 30 June from 6- 8pm; Bellingham Methodist Church Hall on Thursday 5 July from 11am-1pm; the atrium of Hexham General Hospital on Friday 8 July from 11am- 2pm; Allendale Village Hall on 15 July from 11am- 1pm and Haydon Bridge Community Centre on Thursday 21 July from 11am- 1pm.

For more details see www.buildingacaringfuture.co.uk