How sad and disturbing that at a time when we are looking forward to replacing a hospital that has served the community for countless years, so much controversy surrounds our healthcare in the immediate future.

Waiting lists get ever longer and stories of patients having to wait on stretchers and, indeed, the possibility of trauma among nursing staff because of the ever-increasing workload is of concern.

Hospital staff are no doubt aware of the great affection that most people feel for them because of the excellent care we receive from them. We understand their problems.

Bringing our concern to light through the media will, we hope, highlight the situation which has arisen and hopefully through this the authorities will stop this harrowing situation which has led to very sick people waiting in ambulances for a bed.

Immediate hospital care when you are ill is of paramount importance. These matters must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Hospitals are our lifeblood. They rank far higher than anything else. We must make certain that stories so vividly portrayed in your newspaper do not become an everyday occurrence.

People feel that it is our right to receive rapid treatment should we require it, and we must fight for this right by bringing our concerns constantly to those in authority.

Your editorial of August 11 speaks of "Midsummer Madness". I am more concerned by the "Winter Wonderland". I do hope the hospitals will not get "snowed under".

J WALTER,

Bromwich Lane,

Worcester.