I WRITE to advise your readers that the League of Friends of Kidder-minster Hospitals is still awaiting acceptance from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust of the offer of up to £80,000 to subsidise the Kidderminster Hospital switchboard, thereby ensuring the continued service for the next 12 months.

The friends were concerned that the proposed action being considered by the trust in transferring the switchboard, which presently receives an average of 83,500 calls per month, to a call centre, to be created at Redditch Hospital, would deprive the community of another vital service.

Furthermore, this proposed change does not take into consideration the increase in activity which must follow the opening of a new 30-bedded orthopaedic ward, the scheduled increase in the number of in-patient and day surgery operations or the expansion of the kidney dialysis unit.

At this time of increasing activity and with patients being treated from further afield, local knowledge from switchboard operators will be vital.

To consider spending in excess of £300,000 in order to make a possible recurrent revenue saving of £70,000 at such a time must warrant further consideration.

We would urge the trust to understand the feelings of the local population and to consider the league's proposal, which included a request for a review of the whole situation at the end of the 12-month period.

D WASE

Chairman,

The League of Friends of the Kidderminster Hospitals