WASHINGTON — The schedule has been finalized for a “telephone town hall” to be hosted next week by Rep. Virginia Foxx, who serves Surry County in Congress.

Constituents living in Surry and elsewhere in North Carolina’s Fifth District can participate in the meeting by dialing 1-877-850-4133 at 6:30 p.m. and entering the password FOXX (3699).

The local member of Congress has opted to hold the meeting by telephone as opposed to a traditional town hall setting before an assembled audience. Such meetings conducted by other federal lawmakers in recent weeks have become heated at times.

“We need sensible health-care reform that is patient-centered, not government-centered or insurance company-centered,” Foxx said in a prepared statement released Thursday by her congressional office.

“In the midst of the national debate over health-care reform, many constituents want to know what their government is up to with health care,” added Foxx, who is co-sponsoring her own reform legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“North Carolina taxpayers are rightly demanding that Washington slow down the process and listen to their concerns,” Foxx said. “So I am looking forward to hearing constituents’ thoughts about the health-care reform bills moving through Congress.”

Surry residents will be connected to a live conference call with Foxx and other constituents in the Fifth District if they dial the toll-free number on Thursday and enter the password. After joining the call, participants will be able to ask the congresswoman questions about health-care reform or any other issues on their minds.

“Please join me on this telephone town hall,” Foxx said. “This will be a great opportunity for constituents to let their voice be heard in the important health-care debate in Congress, no matter where they live in the Fifth District.”