I WAS disturbed to see from E Crittenden's letter (Boton Evening News, February 9) that someone else with a long term illness needing regular hospital treatment is also having to suffer as a result of Government policy.

There are also patients who, after the initial consultant appointment to meet that target, are having subsequent appointments and tests postponed so that routine, non-urgent operations can be carried out within that targeted time. This delays treatment if they are eventually diagnosed with a serious life threatening illness and it may then be too late to do anything about it.

I note that Mr Crittenden has been referred to the A & E department and I wish him luck.

He has my sympathy for the frustrating time which lies ahead of him.

There are other patients like him who are being made to suffer because the Government has placed the emphasis on routine operations instead of clinical need.

The letters and reports from some hospital staff are encouraging.

Such action can only help the hospital, the staff and patients.

(name and address supplied)