Cicely Symonds, a stalwart member of the Friends of Ross Community Hospital has several reasons to be grateful to the NHS.

She said: “In the last few years of his life my husband had several medical emergencies. In every case the response from the doctors, paramedics, County Hospital and Ross Community Hospital was first class.

“I also have reason to be grateful to the NHS. Two years ago I fell in Hereford and suffered a nasty break. Within minutes the paramedics had arrived and I was taken to the County Hospital where I was examined, X-Rayed and transferred to a ward. I was operated on the next day and had a short stay. I returned home where I received physiotherapy and all the medical equipment I needed.

“I was born in the 1930s and can well remember what a financial nightmare illness could be for poorer families. We are indeed lucky to have our NHS.”