THE government claims to be consulting the people about its plans to re-organise the Primary Care Trusts which organise the health care other than in hospitals.

I agree with Councillors McGrath and Pearce, ( Letters, February 8). This consultation is a sham.

The consultation document gives four options, but makes it clear that only one of these is acceptable. Instead of the three PCT's in Worcestershire at the moment, the intention is to have just one.

And, despite the fact that the so-called consultation is still going on, a committee has already been set up to arrange this. So much for consultation.

The existing PCTs are small enough and local enough to take account of the needs of patients locally, so they are accountable to local people.

One huge PCT, covering the whole county, will inevitably come to be based in Worcester, resulting in a loss of local health services and a loss of local control.

The consultation document is called Ensuring a Patient-led NHS, but these proposals are a big step in the wrong direction.

The Government's argument is that one large PCT will be able to stand up to the demands of big hospitals, such as the QE, and get the best deal for its patients.

The least we should accept is two PCTs in Worcestershire, one in the north and one in the south. This would give the strength to do this while retaining at least some local accountability.

The real reason for this reorganisation is, of course, to save money. The committee of MPs set up to look at these proposals strongly condemned them, saying that such a major reorganisation would not produce savings for years.

The fact is that the existing Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT works very well. The Government's document presents no evidence that a county-wide PCT would work as well as the present system, so why change it?

A month ago the Government produced another set of proposals, rightly emphasising the central role of out-of-hospital care. How are these proposals to fit in with the reorganised and less accountable PCTs ? There is not much sign of a well thought out strategy here.

All of us have an interest in how our healthcare is provided and, if sufficient of us actually respond, this consultation need not be a sham.

Copies of the consultation document can be obtained by telephoning 0845 257 7045 or on line at www.nhswestmidlands.org.uk The deadline for responses is March 22.

Neil Holmes, Rockhill, Bromsgrove