MANY thanks to all those people who supported our Christmas stall and raffle outside the Co-op in Lydney and at the Town Hall. We raised nearly £1,000 for the hospital.

It was also great to see so many people at the public meeting at the Lydney Community Centre where we had a lively discussion about issues facing the hospital.

The clear statement by Penny Harris, the chief executive (designate) of the newly set up Gloucestershire Care Services, that there is no threat to Lydney Hospital was most reassuring for the people of Lydney and district.

In her address to the meeting, she referred to a number of improvements recently carried out including the Audiology Clinic which has been funded by the Friends, and confirmed that this is now the best facility of its kind in any community hospital in Gloucestershire.

She said work is being done to make better use of the operating theatre, and she has undertaken to look into additional funding which may be available as a direct result of the new housing developments planned for Lydney and elsewhere.

She was not able to give any detailed information about the future medical cover at the hospital as this is currently being evaluated, however she did stress that cover would be maintained and that there is no risk that these discussions would threaten in any way the continuing viability of the hospital; in fact she believes that any new arrangements would give better coverage for both patients and staff and in this way patient care would be improved.

In response to concerns expressed at the meeting, Mrs Harris stressed that local GPs would not be denied access to their patients at the hospital as dialogue between all parties involved in patient care remains an essential part of any treatment.

All in all, a good weekend for Lydney Hospital!

– Tony Midgley, chair of the Friends of Lydney Hospital.