A STATE-of-the-art X-ray suite was officially opened at Lydney Hospital last week – with a message to Foresters to keep up their unwavering support for local health facilities.   

Some £120,000 of the £200,000 needed for the new machine – which is due to become operational early next month – was raised through the efforts of the Friends of Lydney Hospital and the generosity of local people.   

The new suite was

officially opened last Wednesday (May 10) by the Lord Lieutenant

of Gloucestershire, Dame Janet Trotter, and Ingrid Barker, Chair of the Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust which runs Lydney Hospital.   

Ms Barker said: “The piece of equipment that has been bought is state of the art. Along with the equipment that went in at Stroud Hospital this is the best kit in the county.   

“What it will be able to do is to take really clear, high definition digital images which can be instantly uploaded to a central computer so clinicians anywhere in the county can read that image and advise on next steps – so it is going to be a big advantage for patients using this hospital.  “They will get their image and reading of it much more quickly than has been possible before and the radiation is much lower.”

She added that the hospital’s minor injuries unit will be renovated over the coming weeks to give a “suite of rooms that will be renewed and pleasant environments for people to use and work in.” 

Dame Janet said she hoped the new facility would be a “change-maker”. She has had several non-executive roles in the NHS and first came to the Forest in relation to health matters some 30 years ago.   

She said: “What I learnt from that is how passionate people are in the Forest about their health service, how they battle away for the health services they think are appropriate and how most of the time they succeed.

“In fact in Gloucestter we were quaking in our boots when we were rotaed to come out to the Forest because we knew we were going to be put under extreme pressure.   “That is absolutely right and you should make sure that Ingrid’s life is difficult because you deserve the very best health services.   

“It’s not about how far you are from an acute hospital, it is about having appropriate services in the right place that you can access.”

Chairman of the Friends of Lydney Hospital, Tony Midgley, said the group was committed to the improvement of health and social care in the Forest. 

He said: “We are extremely grateful to the trust –  this has been a partnership, one example of many such partnerships over the last few years.   

“We, the Friends, are only the organisation that administers the generosity of the people of Lydney and district. We are only here because of the generosity of the people of Lydney and district and it is hugely import ant that we recognise that.    “Today is a milestone in Lydney and district’s history not just the Friends.    “It is a time of uncertainty and whatever the future is we, as the Friends, have made it clear to the board of the trust, to the chief executive of the trust that we will try, as far as we are possibly able, to co-operate in any future programme for improving health and social care in the Forest.   

“Our interest is in making sure that health and social care in the Forest is the best that can possibly be provided.   

“We co-operate but most importantly, we are focused on this hospital, we are focused on raising funds for this hospital.

“We are not wedded to a building but we are wedded to a hospital here.   

“It is the jewel in the crown of Lydney and district.