A ‘CITIZENS’ Jury’ has voted Cinderford as their preferred location for a new £11 million district hospital, after five days of arguments, counter arguments, statistics and medical opinions.
Cinderford will now be presented as the preferred Citizens’ Jury option at a meeting with Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group on August 30.
After the hearing a spokesman for Cinderford Town Council said: “We are excited to now be able to work with partners to deliver patient centred healthcare in the heart of the forest for the benefit of everyone in the District."
Cllr Brian Pearman of Lydney Town Council said: “It was interesting to note that the Citizens Jury was not independently scrutinised.
“Citizens Juries is a well established process in America, less so in the UK, and in my opinion not fit for purpose in making this sort of decision.
“Lydney has excellent sites already allocated for employment which could accommodate a hospital with sufficient car parking and room to expand when required, and with direct access to the A48.
Nick Penny, mayor of Coleford said: "Obviously we are disappointed by the result of the Citizens’ Jury but of course at this point this is only a recommendation.
“We are still convinced that Coleford is the best option because it is the best connected of the three locations."
A joint statement from NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust said: “We note the outcome of the independent Citizens’ Jury and the recommendation on location.
“The boards will carefully consider the recommendation, together with feedback received during the recent public engagement, feedback from health and care staff, information about travel and access issues and other information about the local population, before any decision on the location is made."
The pressure group HOLD will be staging a protest at Forest Hills Golf Club on August 30 when NHS officials make their final decision on the new hospital site.
HOLD spokesman Owen Adams said: “We intend to take legal action when the decision to close our two hospitals is made."
Mr Adams was also severely critical of the way the Citizens’ Jury hearing was handled.