TUCKED between The Trinity Rooms and Stroud General Hospital, we celebrated the NHS’s 65th birthday in the Pocket Park.

Built and given to the people in the 1880s, the Trinity Rooms acted as a ward in the First World War for troops, many, almost certainly, wounded on the Somme.

The stone over the entrance of the hospital follows with the year 1919.

In the Pocket Park we reflected on the debts we all owe the NHS.

James read words of the founding figure, Aneurin Bevan, whose friend, disciple and biographer was a young Michael Foot.

Foot’s statue in Plymouth, his home city, was recently defaced and daubed with swastikas.

He was born in a house overlooking Argyll Park, the original ground of Plymouth Argyll.

He was a life-long supporter of the Green Army.

Plymothians were always proud of him and his family.

J Pentney Stroud A COPY of a letter to Paul Jennings, chief executive of Gloucestershire Care Services, regarding the proposed overnight closure of Stroud Hospital minor injuries unit I wish to register on behalf of Stroud District Council my opposition to this proposal.

Whilst I can understand the reasons, it does not take away that this will be a diminution of service to the residents of the Stroud district.

The minor injuries unit has been closed on numerous occasions recently, this I believe has led people to lose confidence in the service.

There are already numerous pressures on the A&E unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and I suggest that this proposed change to the Stroud Minor Injuries Unit will only add to the pressure on this unit.

Also, we are faced with uncertainty of who in the county will operate the GP Out Of Hours Service in the future.

Sadly, I believe we are seeing the consequences of austerity measures in how the NHS operates and delivers services locally.

I ask that you and colleagues at the CCG confirm that you see a long-term future for Stroud Hospital and that this proposed change in the minor injuries unit service, is not the start of the process to remove other services from the hospital which will see its ultimate closure.

I am happy to meet with you and colleagues to explore possible solutions.

Stephen Lydon

Leader of Stroud District Council