I CANNOT believe the hypocrisy of P Brierley in criticising the Government's management of the NHS. Thanks to extra money and summer contingency plans the NHS has been able to cope with one of its most severe tests in recent times.

The Tories have opposed the extra money for health and after 18 years in control of an NHS created by a Labour Government left it in a state whereby it struggled to cope with demand all year round not just at winter. If P Brierley believes his party could do better why did they not do it when they were in power?

The fact is that winter problems are the result of years of Tory cash cuts and lack of investment. In contrast since being elected, Labour has allocated billions of pounds for investment in the NHS which will in time begin to be felt across the Health Service. I would agree that the Health Service does have major problems but to say that they are the result of a Labour Government that has only been in power for 18 months is ridiculous though probably typical of a Tory who would like us to forget the damage they have caused the NHS during the 18 years of Tory mismanagement.

Cllr Betty McCracken

Whitton Mews, Horwich

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