Dozens of local people attended a meeting at the Ryefield Centre, on Tuesday, July 18th, to speak to the NHS Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) about their experiences of community health and GP services in the area and to raise their concerns with regards to Ross Community Hospital.

Residents who attended the meeting were welcomed to the event by Dr Ian Tait and Jade Brooks, both of the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Before the meeting Ms Brooks told the Gazette that the CCG are undertaking a programme where they listen to what local residents have to say with regards to their experience with health care, and what people want to see more of in the area.

She added that they were pleased with the high turnout of visitors and there will be further events in Ross in the near future, taking place until the end of September, when more people can attend to share their views.

Dr Tait commented that the CCG want to get a flavour of what is important to residents who live in different areas of the County; the needs and priorities of Ross residents may differ a great deal from those living in Hereford, Bromyard, Leominster, et cetera.

During the meeting, several local residents raised concerns about the Ross Community Hospital, as the draft sustainability and transformation plan, published last year, outlined possible cuts to beds in community hospitals.

Dr Tait told the meeting that he was not attending the event with any pre-laid plans, he said the CCG are wanting to hear from local people what their perspective is of healthcare in the Ross area. “There are no plans to close the hospital,” he said.

Simon Hairsnape, the Chief Executive Officer of the Herefordshire CCG, said that he is aware that Ross Community Hospital is really important to the local community, but the CCG needed to have a conversation with Ross residents about many other local healthcare services.

He added that healthcare services do need to change as the needs of the population change. He added the CCG have several choices to make, and they are striving to involve local people in those choices.

Other people commented that they had been disappointed that the meeting had not been more publically advertised. Last week, the Ross Gazette was informed of the public meeting after last week’s edition of the newspaper had been printed.

The editorial team at the Gazette published the details of the meeting online and on social media, and local residents helped to spread the word.

Dr Tait and Ms Brooks apologised for the short notice of the meeting, but told residents that there would be other opportunities for people who had not been able to attend the event to share their views and experiences with the CCG. The Gazette will print details of these events as soon as we know when and where they will be taking place.