It is really good news that plans for the £19-million refurbishment of Cossham Hospital have been submitted to Bristol City Council.

This means that many more people will be able to receive healthcare nearer to their homes.

Cossham will provide a new minor injuries unit, the first standalone midwife-led birthing centre in South Gloucestershire and Bristol, X-Ray, ultrasound, MRI and CT scanning, a new renal dialysis unit and much more.

Thanks must go to many for this great achievement, particularly to the Save Cossham Group and the Cossham League of Friends, and to the Evening Post for giving our campaign so much publicity.

I would also like to thank those working for our local NHS. Once the local NHS had been persuaded to keep Cossham open and to invest in its future, they have worked extremely hard to bring this about.

My constituents are very grateful, as am I.

Roger Berry MP, Kingswood, Labour.