ACCIDENT victims from the outskirts of the Forest are facing long waits at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital rather than using Forest hospitals, says Maurice Bent of the League of Friends of the Dilke Hospital committee.
Mr Bent said: "There are people on the fringes of the Forest that don't know about the facilities we have in this area. Lots of people particularly living up towards Newent go to Gloucester and have to wait two or three hours to be seen.
"It is usually much faster and more convenient to be seen in the Forest and I would like to remind everyone that we should use the hospitals or we may lose them."
The minor injuries units at the Dilke and Lydney hospitals are run by nurses and there are often doctors present as well.
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At the Dilke the minor injury unit is open from 8am to 11.30pm. A doctor is in attendance from 6.30pm to 11pm on Monday to Friday and 8am to 11pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
The minor injuries unit at Lydney Hospital is open 24 hours a day.
GPs are available in the minor injuries unit in Lydney between 1pm and 3pm on Monday to Friday and at the primary care centre between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
If you need urgent treatment at times when your GP surgery is closed you can ring the out of hours service on 08454 220220 for help and advice.
NHS Direct nurses can give advice 24 hours a day online or on 0845 4647.