SINCE my letter to you about a new, modern hospital for the Bolton and districts I have had several telephone calls wherein people were worried about staffing and costs.

The cost of building and operational costs could be covered by (a) cross accounting between the firms who are in interested in erecting new developments and (b) the operational costs (wages, salaries etc) could be covered by the economies effected in a modern hospital without time-wasting corridors and garden walks to move patients.

I have pointed out to some of these people that single- sex wards could be instituted and the heating, lighting and water supply modernised. When one considers that a new office block is being erected in Westminster, where each MP's office is estimated to cost £2.1m, a new hospital, easier and pleasanter for both patients and staff is not a luxury.

Dorothy B Waters

Winifred Road, Farnworth

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