Madam, I would like to thank all those people who attended the public meeting to discuss the closure of the Minor Injury Unit at Ross-on-Wye.The panel of five included Dr Peter Wilson and Dr Vicky Alner from the Wye Valley Trust, Dr Clayton representing the Doctors in the town, Barbara Barter of the Friends of Ross Community Hospital and Paul Deneen former Chairman of the Community Hospital Campaign.

There were approximately 100 people at this very lively meeting with some quite searching questions being asked. However they were not impressed with the responses to their questions of why it was necessary to close the Unit in the first place and why it was done so quickly without consultation.

It seems such a shame that no other options seemed to have been considered to resolve any problems there might have been at the Unit other than to close the facility at evenings and weekends.As the meeting came to a close those attending and those signing the local petition believe the decision process and final decision were significantly flawed and should be reversed immediately.

It is to be hoped that the two panel members from the Wye Valley Trust will take back to their Board the very strong feelings in the Town over the closure of this much valued facility in our Hospital.

I do feel that all of the town residents need to keep supporting this campaign to re-open our MIU over the coming weeks, there has been a good response to the petition so far with 2,000 signatures collected.

I would like to see every house on every street in Ross visited to collect signatures for this petition. If you can help by collecting signatures in your street, please send your details to the Ross Town Council Offices, Corn Exchange, High Street, Ross-on-Wye and we will ensure you have a supply of forms.

David Ravenscroft, Mayor of Ross-on-Wye

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