GLOUCESTERSHIRE Care Services' (GCS)?consultation about health services in the county being kept in the NHS or contracted out to private companies is due to end on October 3. The experience of volunteers from across Gloucestershire campaigning for the NHS is that the consultation is not common knowledge locally.

Comments people have made on cards for us to forward to?GCS have been:

•It's not for sale!

•I want my local community hospital to remain publicly owned.

•The NHS is what makes this country special, the country is a mess already and privatisation will just benefit those with money.

•Private companies exist to make profit for their shareholders, not to provide public services.

•I object to the waste in the NHS, but this should be addressed – no reason to privatise.

•The NHS is a pillar of decency and civilisation in a world that is rapidly becoming a dog-eat-dog society.

•Every time the publicly owned services have been sold off we the users end up paying more and the utility companies make billions in profit.

•My father did not fight in the war for this.

The volunteers have since received more than 5,800 signatures on a petition for the NHS, which GCS has suggested be handed to them on Thursday Sept 27.

If you want to have your say to keep the NHS you may find a booklet 'Future Management of the NHS Gloucestershire's community health services ­– Have your say' in the library or at your

– Martin Rudland, High Street, Cinderford.