At the moment major vascular surgery is carried out at Ipswich and Colchester General hospitals. However the surgeons carrying out this surgery believe it would be better for patients if only one centre carried out this surgery.

Working together as a group called The Five Rivers Vascular Network, they believe this major surgery should be carried out at Colchester General Hospital only.

The vast majority of vascular patients will not be affected as major surgery accounts for a relatively small number of procedures. All other aspects of vascular care, such as outpatients' clinics, diagnostics and day case surgery, will continue to be carried out at both Ipswich and Colchester General hospitals.

These clinicians believe this will give their patients the best treatment and care available.

They are seeking your views on the change to this service.

To learn more about this decision and to give your views click here

For an electronic copy or hard copies, or the document in another format (such as EasyRead, large print, Braille, Audio, and / or translated into another language), please telephone NHS Suffolk Communications on 01473 770014.

All responses must be received before the engagement closes on 23 December 2011.

NHS Suffolk is hosting this engagement process on behalf of Five Rivers Vascular Network.