AS two former employees of the Alexandra Hospital - both now retired - we would like to add our voices in protest at the proposed cuts.

During our employment we saw many changes implemented, not all for the good of the communities served.

The problems arise out of the need for hospital trusts to be run as businesses rather than public institutions.

The main priority is no longer the purpose for which the NHS was created - a health service giving first priority to good treatment for all with communities able to partake of the benefits regardless of status and with local hospitals within easy visiting distance of friends and relatives.

The merger of the three Worcestershire hospitals would be classed, in business, as a takeover by one in particular.

This hospital is now management heavy and does not seem to know how departments should work from the bottom upwards.

And it is content to spend millions paying outside management consultancy firms.

Over the years, we have seen this many times.

Then the management changes and the circle begins all over again, with morale and standards taking a downhill slide.

Whatever happened to the good old suggestion box?

But then, if people contributing put a name to their ideas they could be out on their ears.

Fortunately for us, this no longer applies.

It would be nice to regularly see top management visiting departments, finding out how they work and discussing with ordinary "shop floor" workers any ideas for implementing improvements.

This used to be the example set by one particular general manager in the past and it worked well.

The picture at present is one of overstretched, stressed-out workers, no time for patient comfort and, if staff and patients alike have further to travel, there will be more deaths and accidents on the roads. This in turn will have a knock-on effect for resources.

It is essential in this day and age to have facilities such as accident and emergency and maternity available within easy distance of large communities such as Redditch and Bromsgrove.

PAT EVANS

ROSEMARY WHARRAD

Lodge Park