Several people with close connections to the NHS, and in particular to Ross Community Hospital were asked to sum up what they think about the NHS;

Jill Davies, Chairman of The Friends of Ross Hospital - “What I appreciate about the NHS is that it is giving freely available access to everyone regardless of their circumstances and to me specifically, as a Type 1 Diabetic, it means that without the NHS I would not be alive today to be able to write this.”

Pauline Boughen, Occupational Therapist at Ross Community Hospital - “Peace of mind that there will be someone to turn to when things are tough.”

Sharon Waldis, Senior Sister, Ross District Nurses - “I think the greatest achievement of the NHS is that we still have an NHS. Despite the ever increasing cost and demand, it continues to survive and remains committed to providing one of the world’s most cost effective healthcare systems.”

Christine Price, Chief Officer, Healthwatch Herefordshire - “NHS patient centred care: as more and more people live with multiple long term conditions, and present with increasingly complex care needs, it is really important to them that they experience care that joins up around them and meets their needs.

“Patients with multiple complex health needs only want to have to tell their story once; they want one person to coordinate their care who can listen to and understand what matters to them. We are fortunate as patients in this country to have the NHS working to this aim.”

Jackie Jones, Community Matron - “Providing care based on need and free at the point of delivery. Promoting patient centred care and supporting complex care management within the community setting.”

Karen Manifold, Practice Manager, Pendeen Surgery - “Vaccination programmes and eradicating disease is one of the biggest achievements of the NHS.”

Dr Simon Lennane, GP, Alton Street Surgery, is pictured with the Mayor of Ross-on-Wye - “Safe, compassionate, cost effective health care, available to all.”