Where we live we have 2 small hospitals, run more or less like the old cottage hospitals. We have one in a place called Ledbury, Peter have you ever used it? I never knew it existed until our next door neighbour appeared at our door one day with his hand covered in a very bloody tea towel, he had had an accident in his wood and asked if I could take him to hospital, I immediately got him in my car and proceeded down the track, I was about to turn right, he said where are you going, I said to Hereford, oh no he said go to Ledbury, in his agony he gave me instructions how to ge5 to this small hospital that does accident and emergency procedures. My neighbour went into the hospital, was in about 30 mins came out stitches in his hand, all nicely bandaged, a few pain killers and told to report back in a weeks time to have the stitches removed.

My neighbour seems to have accidents quite frequently and has on 3 occasions appeared at our door with the need to go to the small hospital in Ledbury, it is not the place to go if you are having a heart attack or the like but for accidents, like me neighbour seems to have it is an excellent place, it is open everyday.

We also have a small hospital in Bromyard, no A & E but to do have X-ray facilities, carry out small ops and have day surgeries, with an appointment.

I think the cottage hospitals should have a come back as I think in rural communities they would be a god send.