THE decision to hold a meeting about the future of health services near Newport has been criticised by campaigners.

Gill George who leads the Defend our campaign has hit out at a decision to hold a public meeting of the combined Clinical Commissioning Groups at Harper Adams University.

“You would expect this to be held in central Telford or Shrewsbury – in a population centre with reasonable public transport links,” said Ms George.

“Not this time. It’ll be at Harper Adams Agricultural College/University – near the village of Edgmond, and two-and-a-half miles from Newport.

“Anyone travelling by public transport will have to leave just after 4 pm from Ludlow. One problem, though, for any public transport user. You only get to stay for the first minute of the meeting, before walking to the bus stop to catch the last bus that’ll take you home.”

“There’s continuing uncertainty about Future Fit funding, about staff numbers, and about bed numbers. We don’t know the funding available for community alternatives to hospital care either.” The meeting is on Tuesday, January 29 at 6.30pm.