MAY I comment on some of the highlights of a recent edition of the BEN and ask the people of Bolton to pressurise their MPs to take some action.

Page 7: Donations to NHS Trust providing more than £500,000 for the benefit of patients - money that should have been provided by the NHS itself without having to have a begging bowl at the door.

Page 15: Highlights from the Annual Report of the NHS Trust increasing pressure on the hospital, working to reduce waiting lists; increased number of emergency medical admissions; pressure in emergency medicine, strain on anaesthetic staff and seeking ways to improve staff numbers in this discipline; one additional bed in intensive care but national shortage in this category of staff; further needs in the mental health fields; enhancement of diagnostic support service; pressure on theatres with preparation to increase capacity; computer system to be expanded to all departments. All of these plans in a patched up building and no thought of transferring to a state of the art building which would be more efficient and economical to operate.

Page 53: Brian Iddon's letter from Westminster describing all the changes taking place at the Palace of Westminster for the comfort of the members supported by the taxpayers of the country. These changes include a new Debating Chamber where they sit to debate modifications/improvements to the kitchens and a new office block - Portcullis House, which will dominate the landscape near Westminster Bridge. This building will provide offices for 210 MPs and will cost £235 million making it the most expensive office block in the world.

While Bolton has to have a patched up hospital dating from 1860, with patients being pushed around the grounds in tatty wheelchairs, unprotected against inclement weather and staff are exhausted by walking endless corridors which could be eliminated in a newly designed and town centre sited hospital, the so-called rulers of the country ensconce themselves in office luxury costing over £1,000,000 per member with £25 million for accessories.

Surely the town which hopes to become a city some day deserves better health facilities than at present provided by the NHS - not patched up buildings and groups here and there for various reasons, all with different chairmen and committees and extra costs.

Dorothy B Waters

Winifred Road, Farnworth

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