A CAUTIONARY tale – or never be surprised at peoples' reactions. For many weeks now, alongside other members of the Forest of Dean Against the Cuts group, I have been petitioning against the transfer of service provision at the Dilke and Lydney hospitals from the NHS to a private 'Social Enterprise' company. Social Enterprises are businesses, even if they define themselves as having a social or environmental purpose.

More and more public services are now being provided by these businesses and yet we are supposed to believe that this is not a privatisation.

In terms of taking over NHS services the 'Social Enterprise' body has expressed concern over 'winning the hearts and minds' of the NHS staff members who will be transferred to the new companies on October 1.

Well, petitioning is a great way to speak to people on particular issues and hear their views. It is absolutely clear that the general public in the Forest is overwhelmingly against taking services away from the NHS and putting them in the hands of any type of private business. I is also clear that many of the staff currently employed by the NHS feel very concerned and confused about what is happening and also reluctant to speak on the subject.

The other thing to say is that people have been shocked to hear of the proposed changes which have been planned without proper public consultation or public information and have queued up to sign our petitions.

I was therefore pretty shocked myself when I was accused of lying and misleading people when petitioning at the recent Lydney fete and told to get off private property – the Lydney Hospital car park.

I was particularly surprised as some leading members of the community had already signed. I did manage a more polite conversation with another of the organisers who thought that the changes we are opposing are still only one of many ideas in the melting pot.

This, of course cannot be the case since the designate chief executive officer for the new providers is already in place and nurses have been informed that after October 1 they will no longer be employed by the NHS.

However, this kindly man did explain that they all wanted to have a nice fun day and didn't want any nasty politics to spoil it. Personally, I find difficulty in viewing health reforms as anything other than political and the fete-goers were very happy to sign up in between buying delicious jam and beautiful plants and eating cream teas.

I decided to do as I was asked, rather than ordered, and continued my task outside on the road.

However, I still feel shocked and upset at the reaction of one official. After all, do we not share the same aims?

– Diana Gash, Sparrow Hill, Coleford.