We want people to get in touch with their stories - both good and bad - of what the NHS is like following the closure of A&E and other acute services in March.

The idea is to build up a clear picture of how the changes have affected the town, in partnership with Dacorum Hospital Action Group (DHAG), which has already compiled a dossier of around 20 patient experiences.

Member Edie Glatter said issues had emerged around transport and capacity at Watford General Hospital.

She said a number of stroke patients in the rehabilitation ward in Hemel Hempstead had to be taken by 999 ambulance to Watford.

"There is no proper back-up at Hemel for the stroke unit," she said.

Meanwhile, a man with mild learning difficulties who suffered a nose bleed was taken by ambulance to A&E in Watford despite Hemel Hempstead's urgent care centre being just minutes away.

The 50 year old, who had also had a panic attack, ended up stranded in Watford at 3am and had to pay £30 to get back to his old town home, his family claim.

His mother Ioleen Jennings says the situation makes a mockery of the claims of hospital chiefs that people with minor conditions will be treated at the urgent care centre.

Mrs Jennings, aged 73, of Newlands Road in Hemel Hempstead, said: "We couldn't understand it.

"They did some checks on him.

"He didn't like to phone anyone so he got a taxi at three o'clock in the morning – it cost him £30."

Her son was taken to Watford last November – following the opening of the urgent care centre in October - after his care worker called an ambulance.

Mrs Jennings says her husband Michael had a fall in February, suffering a cut that was treated by an ambulance crew, but he refused to be taken to Watford A&E.

"I think they just take everybody to Watford," she said.

"People might go and they might not have any money on them."

In March A&E in Hemel Hempstead was replaced with the 24-hour urgent care centre, which is run by GPs and deals with minor injuries.

DHAG will present its dossier to West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust and health watchdogs.

You can contact Mrs Glatter of DHAG on 01442 254447 or post your experiences HERE.

You can phone us on 01442 262311, email HERE or use the contact form HERE.

The trust said it had contacted the man's care worker when he was discharged.

"There is strict criteria agreed with the ambulance service on which patients are suitable to be taken to the urgent care centre at Hemel Hempstead and which patients require full A&E services," the trust said in a statement.

"In this case the patient was correctly taken to A&E at Watford where he received the appropriate acute care.

"The trust has a robust policy in place for discharging vulnerable patients, including liaising with relatives and/or care workers to ensure a safe discharge.

"This policy was adhered to in this case.

"If your reader would like to discuss any issues they should contact the complaints department on 01923 217866."