IT is sad news to find out that the one and only specialist stroke facility in the area - The Willows at Evesham - is selected for closure.

When is it time to say enough is enough?

We have had our accident and emergency department and our operating and in-house bed services, not to mention maternity wards, taken away from Kidderminster Hospital, and what for?

Now it is the Willows to close, maybe to meet someone's political agenda.

Or is it bad management of finances? Which is worse?

None of it is in the best interests of the local residents, is it?

When Ronkswood and the Castle Road hospitals in Worcester were closed and Kidderminster downgraded, the serious bed situation was recognised by clinicians and prospective patients, but not by the administrators.

Were the interests of Wyre Forest folk considered?

I have had a stroke recently and have been lucky to have experience of The Willows. The treatment offered is perfect for stroke victims, who need a special range of expertise.

It is sad. It appeared that the NHS had re-thought the philosophy on strokes and they no longer left stroke victims to die.

Maybe we were mistaken.

JOHN YOUNGER

Heathfield Road

Bewdley