PLANNING is sensible anticipation - the offensive against the unforeseen. He/she who plans well seldom fails!

The NHS in Worcestershire, in past years, has given every indication of a seemingly self-perpetuating oligarchy of ineptitude. The reason for a re-organisation of the NHS in Worcestershire is deficit.

I have written to Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Health, urging that additional resources be allocated to Worcestershire, in order to avert a possible calamity.

The extremely expensive Private Finance Initiative-funded Worcestershire Acute Services Hospital on the Worcester site, will demand a huge "rent" from the developers.

This will have to be found from revenue allocated to patient care. Clearly, the books will have to be balanced - then I fear for the future of local hospitals in Bromsgrove, Evesham and Malvern.

Even though, we will have seen a reduction of NHS beds in the county of up to 33 per cent by the time the reorganisation of the NHS in Worcestershire has been effected.

Alexandra Hospital, Redditch's services may well be under threat, while Wyre Forest residents can draw their own conclusions.

COUN TOM WAREING,

Crabbs Cross Division.