A COMMUNITY group aiming to save the Dilke and Lydney hospitals is holding a series of public meetings next week. 

HOLD – Hands Off Lydney and the Dilke – is campaigning to retain the current community hospitals and to have the £11 million earmarked for a new hospital spent on the two existing facilities. 

There will be public meetings in Lydney which come as the consultation organised by Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust comes towards it conclusion. 

The meetings will be held at Lydney Town Hall on Monday (November 27), the Belle Vue Centre in Cinderford on Wednesday (November 29)  and Main Place, Coleford on Thursday (November 30). They all start at 7pm. 

Peter Stanway, of HOLD, said: “The meetings are a chance for people to have their voices heard. The Dilke and Lydney are part of our heritage and people value that. 

“We are asking that as many people as possible fill out the consultation forms to let the trust know what we think.” 

The three month public consultation on proposals for a new community hospital closes on Sunday 10 December.   

Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group believe that building a new community hospital would ensure high quality care in the future, meeting the needs of residents and improve working conditions for staff.   

Chief executive of Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, Katie Norton said: “We want to improve the care we provide in the communities we serve. That means understanding exactly what’s important to everyone, whether you’re a patient, a local resident or someone working with us to deliver great health and social care.   

“The conversations we have been having over the last two months have been so helpful in understanding what is important to local people and we really want to build on this over the last four weeks, so please get involved and have your say.”

The trust has a number of drop-in sessions and visits from the information bus. 

The information bus will be at Newerne Street car park, Lydney this afternoon (Wednesday), The Triangle, Cinderford (Saturday, November 25), Clock Tower, Coleford (Friday, December 1), Three Shires Garden Centre, Newent (Tuesday, December 5). All between 10am and 3pm. 

There are drop-in sessions at Cinderford RFC, Thursday, November 23, 2pm-4pm, Hartsbarn tea room, Longhope, Tuesday, November 28, 10am-noon, Sixteen Community Café, Coleford, Wednesday, November 29, 10am-noon. 

There is also a session at the Belle Vue Centre, Cinderford on Saturday, December 2 between 10am and noon with a presentation at 10am. 

A Freepost consultation booklet is available in pharmacies, GP surgeries, hospitals, libraries and district council buildings. 

The survey can also be completed online at www.fodhealth.nhs.uk

Consultation forms will also be available at the HOLD meetings.