ONCE is unfortunate. Twice is embarrassing.

Health bosses were again been left talking to themselves in a an empty room after no one showed up to a public meeting to hear about plans for the future of Southampton hospitals.

Rows of seats had been ambitiously set out for a hi-tech presentation and question and answer session.

But Southampton Voluntary Ser-vices Centre remained empty throughout the evening session.

It was the second meeting to encourage the public to sign up to as "members" of a new foundation health trust which would give bosses more freedom from Government control.

Previously no one had turned up to a morning event at the African-Caribbean Centre attended by Southampton University Hospitals Trust chairman and chief executive.

This time they wisely stayed away, instead sending non-executive director Gavin Davies.

Trust spokesman Alison Ayres said it had been surprising no one had showed up, but insisted: "It's only a small part of what we are doing.

"It gives everyone who we haven't already talked to an opportunity to come and ask questions.

"We have to give people an opportunity to see us face to face."

Just six people had showed at to a "drop-in session" in Lymington in the New Forest, but more than 100 people had been seen by trust officials at community and voluntary group meetings and 20,000 leaflets had been distributed across the city.

The trust now had 500 people signed up to become members and was on target to reach 1,000 by the end of the 12-week consultation period.

"It's starting to snowball," said Mr Davies. Staff had the potential to reach 34,000 people through family and friends.

The trust hopes to have about 7,000 members by the time its bid goes before the independent regulator Monitor which makes the final decision.

The application will first be vetted by the Department of Health.

If successful the trust, which runs Southampton General Hospital and Princess Anne Hospital, would get control over its finances and says it would become more locally accountable.

Members of the public and its 7,500 staff have the chance to become members and elected governors of the new trust, and have a say in how its run.

The trust was among the first wave bidding for foundation status in 2004 but withdrew from the running with Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust after realising it was about to lose the three-star rating needed to qualify as a candidate.

Community, university and school leaders, councillors, and city MPs are backing the new bid.

It is opposed by some of the unions who doubt the financial competence of trust managers and worry about creating NHS inequalities and back door privatisation.

The next meeting will be held from 6pm at Crosfield Hall in Broadwater Road, Romsey on Monday.

For more information contact the foundation trust office on 023 8079 5199 or e-mail ft@suht.swest.nhs.uk.

The consultation document on the future of the trust can be viewed by clicking on the links below