KEVIN Meagher (Letters: April 18) is mistaken in believing that only Labour can save the NHS.

It is clear from what he says that he has never been inside the Royal Bolton Hospital. But if he has then he must have gone around with his eyes shut.

The additional funding in the Budget proposals will not make a scrap of difference without reform of the way in which the hospital service is administered. The only reform announced by Labour to date is yet another layer of management in the form of auditors. A substantial part of the funding will thus be swallowed up by the costs of the auditors and the extra National Insurance contributions which the Royal Bolton Hospital will have to pay for all their employees.

It is still being debated as to whether funding by part taxation and part private health schemes is the way forward, but Mr Meagher seems to be unaware that those who go private are subsidising the NHS by paying twice, having already paid through taxation. Without private patients, taxation would have to increase to meet the shortfall.

An independent survey after the Budget revealed that 40 per cent of the population were not prepared to pay more tax for the NHS, in which case, perhaps Mr Meagher will inform us where the additional funding is to come from.

The report of Health Minister Hazel Blears' conference (Bolton Evening News, April 27/28) produced nothing positive, only more promises. The funding already provided may have reduced the waiting time to see a consultant at the Royal Bolton Hospital to meet Government targets. This is being achieved, however, by moving the waiting time further along the process so that there are increased delays in obtaining test results and subsequent consultations. There needs to be a proper procedure in place to advise out-patients when and how they will receive the results of tests. At present, such communication from the hospital to the patient and/or his/her GP is poor.

Those people who have had recent personal experience of the Royal Bolton and other hospitals will need to see something more positive before they will believe the promises of Hazel Blears and Kevin Meagher.

Regular Hospital Visitor

(Name and address supplied)