THE first stage in selecting a “citizens’ jury” which will consider the location of a new hospital for the Forest has been completed.

Gloucestershire health chiefs have announced that “community interest company” Citizens’ Juries has been appointed to run the process.

The jury will be made up of 18 residents and four healthcare professionals and will hear expert witnesses to take a view on whether they think the £11 million new facility to replace The Dilke and Lydney Hospitals should be in, or near Cinderford, Coleford or Lydney.

It is expected the jury will hear evidence for three days and will make a recommendation on the location of the hospital

to Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust

and the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

More information about the recruitment of the jury, which will be balanced in terms of age, gender and geography, will be made available in April.

Dr Lawrence Fielder, the CCG’s GP liaison lead for the Forest said: “It is good to see that clinical and citizen representation will be an important part of this process and that progress is being made.

“There was strong support during the consultation for the criteria that will help guide this work and for developing a recommendation on a preferred location using a forum of this kind.”

Citizens’ Juries, which is supported by the University of Manchester, is a social enterprise which designs and runs the bodies.

Gloucestershire Care Services chief executive, Katie Norman, said: “Citizens’ Juries are experienced in delivering independent and thorough citizens’ juries.

“We are delighted that they will be able to bring their expertise and independence to help us to progress the next step in this important opportunity to invest in a new hospital for the Forest of Dean.”