‘Stop taking away our hospital equipment’, say locals

People in Ross-on-Wye voiced their frustration at hospital bosses this week for moving equipment from the town to Hereford.

The Friends of Ross Hospital have over the years raised funds for health equipment by organising coffee mornings, street collections, shop sales and an annual hospital garden fete.

But it appears some of the equipment they helped pay for at Ross Community Hospital is being moved to Hereford County Hospital.

Mary Osborne expressed her concern to health chiefs at Ross town council’s meeting on December 18.

“A lot of the equipment in the minor injuries unit was purchased by the friends of Ross hospital of which I’m a member, and we are concerned,” she said.

“We’ve already had one piece of equipment removed from the hospital. Nothing to do with the minor injuries unit and told about it afterwards with excuses being made and that is not on.

“All the equipment is labelled, donated by the friends and it’s not for Hereford to make decisions what happens with it.

“We should be asked.”

Wye Valley NHS Trust managing director Jane Ives thanked Mrs Osborne for the support they’ve received from the charity.

“I don’t know what the equipment is that has disappeared but if you drop me a line I will look into it,” she said.

Mrs Osborne replied: “Well, Hereford has taken a field vision machine which measures people’s sight. It’s very important.

“Their attitude was that there wasn’t another clinic until the end of January because they needed it Hereford.”