WITH reference to the Ledbury Reporter front page (December 20), the question has to be asked, is there a deliberate policy in place to remove our most experienced and senior nursing staff from their posts?

If such a policy exists then can we, the local residents, be put clearly in the picture as to who formulated such a policy and its aims.

If, however, staff have become so disillusioned with their jobs and management teams that they feel obliged to resign, again we need to fully investigate and expose the problems that appear to have surfaced at our new hospital.

The only reply from Jeremy Nixey, Shaw's chief executive, is that "recruitment of nursing staff is a national problem."

If that is the situation nationally, how on earth did he allow staffing levels at the hospital to get to the stage where his staff, who by his own admission, "made such a devoted contribution to Ledbury Hospital for many years", feel the need to resign.

I wonder what has happened to them? If they have found other nursing posts within the NHS, with management teams they can work with, what does that indicate to the Shaw management team.

Perhaps they should be looking at their own management strategy, rather than bemoaning the fact that nursing staffing levels are a national problem.

My family and I experienced during the past year at first hand the dedicated, caring and professional nursing extended to my wife at the old Ledbury Hospital. I am greatly saddened and at times angry that such absolute jewels in the nursing profession have been forced to resign, stripping our local hospital of the very backbone which makes up our dedicated nursing staff.

MR L NELSON, The Homend, Ledbury.