After years of false dawns, disappointment and numerous consultations, a watershed will be reached on Sunday with the final deadline in a crucial 16-week consultation into healthcare across Leicestershire.

It could mean the closure of a town institution – the 99-year-old Cottage Hospital in Coventry Road – and result in millions of pounds being spent on revamped facilities at St Luke's Hospital in Leicester Road.

But just three more days remain for people to make their feelings known to the NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland health trust before it goes away to consider the far-reaching options. You can complete an online survey, or send a letter or email to the health trust telling them just what sort of NHS health care you want to see provided in the town.

A VARIETY of different options exist to air your views to health bosses.

Click here to link to the trust's website www.lcrpct.nhs.uk for the consultation document and to find the online questionnaire.

People can also send their opinions on email to jo.cooper@lcrpct.nhs.uk

Letters should be sent to NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, Lakeside House, 4 Smith Way, Grove Park, Enderby, Leics, LE19 1SS.

Those with any queries over the consultation are asked to phone the trust on 0116 2957626.

Graham Buchanan, a spokesman for the trust, told the Mail this week that letters or emails post-marked up to October 5 will all be considered.

Catherine Griffiths, the chief executive of NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, said: "This is your chance to look at what we're proposing and tell us what you think. The opinions of local people matter greatly to us, so we need to hear from you."

Critics paint a sorry picture of broken promises and dashed hopes regarding the state of Harborough's hospitals over the last ten years.

The most vitriolic reaction was aired in March 2007 when health chiefs announced that long-standing plans for a new £31 million Harborough hospital at St Luke's were being axed.

Trust bosses said the plan had become too expensive despite a Private Finance Initiative agreement reaching the final stages.

Harborough district and county councillor Sarah Hill said: "It looks as if this may be the consultation the trust uses to make some real decisions about the future of hospitals in the town and it's important we send a clear message about what we want to see."

The trust has put forward three options (see panel) but says it is keeping its mind on its proposals.

All the data and correspondence received during the consultation is being passed to experts at Loughborough University who will produce an independent report into the findings.

About 500 people across the county have responded to the consultation so far, according to the trust, but it said specific figures were not available for Harborough.

The trust will then make its final crunch decision - likely to be some time in early 2009.