REGARDING Mr Tony Banks, Vice Chairman of the Royal College of Surgeons, on his remarks on bed-blocking in last Friday's BEN. I must say I have every sympathy with him, but I'm afraid the Social Services are not to blame.

When Wigan and Leigh Hospitals were about to amalgamate with Bolton Hospitals, I read an advert in the Guardian newspaper "a considerable number of extra administrative staff (not medical or nursing staff) would be required".

There would be excellent accommodation and working conditions.

One now realises why nursing and medical staff were not advertised for -- reduction of beds and demolition of some hospitals, extra staff would not be needed. I suppose they got their extra admin staff.

The people of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley were to have a new hospital built, in a situation convenient to all. The general public never saw these plans!

Due to the falling numbers of geriatric patients (in this day and age) there was no longer need for Atherleigh.

Then in 1992, the future of Astley Hospital came under review at a meeting I attended in Hag Fold Community Centre -- one member of the audience suggested it would make an ideal geriatric hospital, being ideally situated, convenient, and easily accessible to the above places.

Astley Hospital, formerly an isolation hospital, was then being used for medial and geriatric patients, and there were two cubicled wards, one with a small theatre, used at times for T & A ops.

The above hospitals, which once treated long term and terminally ill adults, are no more -- the terminally ill treated in hospices, which I believe are funded by charities, and the excellent convalescent hospitals.

I'm afraid the blame must be put elsewhere, the Health Services running the local services of the time, not today's Social Services.

Alice Cook

Mealhouse Court

Atherton