The South West has the lowest number of hospital beds and intensive care beds in the country, as well as the oldest population.
Since 2010 the number of hospital beds in the UK has reduced by 17,000 and we now have one of the lowest number of hospital beds per 100,000 people of any advanced economy in the world.
The NHS has experienced the most dramatic spending squeeze over the past decade and we are now at breaking point. Locally, Cirencester Hospital has been downgraded, Cheltenham A&E is only open from 8pm to 8am, and cottage hospitals such as Fairford only survive because of the generosity of local people.
The Liberal Democrats believe we should be investing in our local NHS, not cutting budgets and services. By improving our facilities in the four community hosptials in Cotswold District we can relieve the pressure on major hospitals like Gloucester, Cheltenham, Warwick, Oxford and Swindon.
Do you agree that more investment is needed in the four Community Hospitals in Cotswold District, and that this would relieve pressure on our larger hospitals?