IN places like America, many people almost have to fight to get medical care. In Britain we have accepted it almost as our right. But in recent weeks the pressures put on the British health service have made us all realise how weak and fragile this "patient" seems to be.

Locally, an additional symptom of this NHS problem has been the disturbing lack of sufficient intensive care beds, with patients having to be ferried to facilities up to 60 miles away because there was no cash available to open a sixth intensive care bed at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

So the news that Bolton hospital bosses have been given the go-ahead to open an extra intensive care bed there is welcome news - and also a stark reminder of just how few of these vital services are present for such a heavily populated area.

Full marks to Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust for pressing for much more investment in intensive care throughout the region. This certainly is a suitable case for urgent financial treatment.

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