READING letters and items recently in the BEN, I've come to the conclusion it's just a pity the people of Bolton didn't fight as hard when Bolton Royal Infirmary was being closed.

Everybody said "No, it'll never happen." But, it did, and the people of Bolton whose families helped to build it in the first place are paying for keeping their mouths shut.

You don't need to go on to the public highway for road rage, just try finding somewhere to park at the Royal Bolton Hospital. Someone is going to have a heart attack one day trying to find a place to park. Putting up smoking huts was a waste of OUR money; if someone wants a cigarette they'll light up anywhere, as long as it's outside the hospital.

It would appear from what I heard, that "bank nurses" get better pay than our NHS nurses. I've heard nurses saying that they are leaving for better pay on the "banks", and Royal Bolton Hospital have to pay fees for these "bank nurses".

There also appears to be a shortage of X-ray staff. One can wait up to six weeks for the results to get to the GP. One can be dead and buried in that time.

I once went to Beaumont Hospital for an X-ray, and I had to sit and wait until a consultant radiologist arrived from the Royal Bolton Hospital. Well, if they are running a private hospital, they should employ a full time radiologist, not take ours. (I no longer have private insurance).

Consultants should only be allowed to see private patients at night. I know they say they are overworked, but most were trained at our universities when grants and loans weren't thought of, so they should give back and not be greedy at the expense of another life who can't pay their prices.

As for closing our courts, do the powers that be expect these people involved to travel to Bury? Well they are in for a shock. "Can't be bothered", "Haven't got the bus fare", and in the end the criminal will win. Our PCs will have to go hunting for them and our taxes will go up yet again.

Let's get together, people of Bolton, and tell the powers-that-be to build us another hospital.

Wednesday's BEN, September 26, said it all. What will happen this winter? Last year was bad enough. So we don't want words -- we want action.

Mrs Jean Bates

Garstang Avenue

Crompton Fold

Bolton