IN your December 31 edition, M J Watkins takes offence over remarks about certain aspects of our new hospital published in your paper. He says that we should be thankful for what we've got.

We most certainly should not. We've all paid, or are paying, our Health Service contributions that used to provide us with reasonably good hospital facilities and care.

This has now reduced itself in Worcester, as in most other areas, to a deteriorated semi-privatised company that provides less coverage than the old Ronkswood/Royal Infirmary combination.

BRIAN D BRIGGS,

Worceste