Madam, As Ross Town Councillors we want to let people know that we are fully behind the campaign being mounted by The Friends of Ross Hospital to ask for a full public consultation on how to ensure effective Minor Injuries Unit cover for the HR9 area into the future.

We read that in Leominster, where similar cuts have been made, the Wye Valley NHS Trust has offered to review things after six months. This is not good enough for Ross.

We want adequate and cost effective 24 hour minor injuries cover restored now. Trailing up to Hereford for minor injuries will clog up both ambulance and Accident & Emergency resources, which would be better employed dealing with more severe accidents and incidents.

It will also cause huge difficulties for those in the town without access to cars, especially the elderly.

As the petition organised by the Friends of the Community Hospital has shown, the response by Ross residents is quite clear – there is overwhelming support for the retention of a 24 hour, locally based service.

We will carry on doing everything we can to support Ross Town Council's campaign to get this cut in opening hours reversed.

Chris Bartrum, Joyce Davis, John Edwards, Ian Henderson, Jo Lane, Jane Roberts and Caroline Utting

Contact us via [email protected]">[email protected]">email