SINCE I started work at age 15 in 1942, I have paid my taxes, unemployment stamps and social security dues continuously until retirement, apart from three years service in the Army before and after VE day

I now continue to pay income and community taxes, much of which contributes to welfare schemes and payouts in a variety of forms, to those less fortunate, who are welcome to the help.

But a lot of the costs, including such extras as policing the A&E departments, and the spiralling venereal diseases, are the result of deliberate acts rather than guiltless injuries and disease, and caused by many who contribute not a penny.

Perhaps the well-paid NHS executive managers should address these issues rather than penalising the genuinely sick and disabled by reducing our local services yet again.

Bromsgrove hospitals I have experienced include All Saints, (ex-military 'spider block') where my children were born, the Cottage Hospital in Ednall Lane, and the Forelands Hospital, off Fox Lane. These covered most of our general needs, including emergencies, but now all gone and the replacement Princess of Wales Community Hospital moves towards part-time.

If the 'trust' managers planned to open a new hospital to care for both Bromsgrove and Redditch, why was it not sited between the two towns? If the new Worcester hospital was to serve north Worcestershire, including Kidderminster, why was it not built near Droitwich?

Older patients deserve to be visited by their nearest and dearest. It is cruel to deny them this possible last pleasure in life, or make it so difficult and costly to do so that they look in vain for their loved one at visiting time.

Transport by any means is costing more than ever in time, money, and convenience. The proliferation of ugly gantries on the M42 and this end of the M5 confirm that we will soon be in a trial area of road pricing by the mile. Friends and neighbours who presently drive an A&E patient, or visitor, to a Bromsgrove hospital will be penalised as well as the patient in pain.

Perhaps the Government can mimic the Voluntary Engagement arrangement for failing hospital trusts, so that we can retain at least one local general hospital, and GP services, in our own town.

John Cawthen

Marlbrook