PLANS to bring an out-of-hours GP service back to Ledbury have been supported by residents.

Meetings have taken place, with another lined up for next month, with the intention of improving what the chairman of the town council, Cllr Nina Shields, has called "a shortage of health services" in Ledbury.

There was an out of hours service in Ledbury until 2004, but it was scrapped.

Cllr Shields, when asked about the absence of an out-of-hours GP service in the town, said: "Ledbury has had a shortage of health services for some while. There is also a lack of available information on what services are available and how these can be accessed.

"Last autumn, Patricia Wilkin, a member of the Town Plan Group, set up the Ledbury Health Group to help identify both what is available currently and what difficulties residents are having in accessing services."

Cllr Shields added: "The Ledbury Health Group is working in partnership with Healthwatch Herefordshire who monitor health service provision in the county. The patient groups from both surgeries are represented and both practice managers have been invited to join.

"Ledbury Health Group have already had an initial meeting with the director of the clinical commissioning group who welcomed the opportunity to open discussions on the way forward for healthcare in Ledbury. Further meetings of the group are planned and the next one will be at 7.30 pm on Tuesday February 26 at the council offices. The Town Council supports this approach."

One town councillor who is keen to bring an out-of-hours GP surgery back to Ledbury is Tony Bradford, who was recently appalled, following a health scare, that he was advised to travel to a surgery in Leominster or Ross.

Cllr Bradford, who was found ill by neighbours after not being seen out and about for a few days, said: "When I fell very ill I found out a few home truths. Why are we in Ledbury different to the people in Ross who have an out-of-hours surgery? We are being discriminated against."

Cllr Bradford is keen to see an out-of-hours 'hub' established at Ledbury Community Hospital.

Julie Knights, the practice manager of St Katherine's GP surgery, explained that when there was government money for three local out-of-hours 'hubs' several years ago, Ross, Leominster and Hereford were chosen.

Dr Wendy Hunter, of St Katherine's Surgery, added: "I agree that, geographically, it's unfair."

But she added: "There was a financial consideration of making the best decision for the largest numbers of people".

She pointed out that Ledbury people can access the out-of-hours service by phoning the 111 NHS number. They may be then advised to travel to one of the three existing hubs, although she stressed that most appointments in those locations are actually pre-booked.

If Ledbury does get an out-of-hours hub, it could be based at one of Ledbury's two GP practices, St Katherine's or the Market Surgery, or at the hospital, but it would be unlikely to be staffed by local GPs.

The hubs at Ross, Leominster and Hereford are run by private firm Taurus Healthcare.

Ledbury residents welcomed the idea of an out-of-hours hub in the town.

Shan Stevens said: "It would be a great reassurance for people if they knew they could get to see a doctor at the weekend."

Sara Manns Pedlingham added: "It's often very difficult for people to get to Hereford, Ross or Worcester to see a doctor. An out of hours service in Ledbury would also take the pressure off of the emergency services and A&E departments."