Residents in Halstead and the surrounding villages are invited to debate on future changes to healthcare provision.

The consultation, which runs from this month until October, includes surveys, meetings and open workshops on the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)’s two and five year plans.

The group - which commissions health services in Halstead - is currently proposing to change fertility services among other health care facilities.

It currently allows up to three cycles but it considering three options: - To keep it to three cycles - To restrict couples to just one cycle - To restrict IVF to cancer patients and allow couples in which the man is HIV positive to have treatment.

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.