DESPITE the many Bury Times articles regarding the proposed closures and rationalisation of services at Fairfield, it still seems that the impact of this is not being understood by the general public.

Children's services are directly linked to A&E, paediatrics, maternity and gynaecology.

If the children's ward closes this will directly impact on A& E; as a result we may have only a daytime A &E service for children. After 8pm, for example, they will have to be transferred or sent home, albeit with a community paediatric nursing team (if they can find the nurses to staff this service at night).

How will they be transferred to North Manchester General, the nearest hospital? By ambulance? With a paediatric nurse, if one can be found? And where then would be the ambulance needed to transfer the woman in labour, or to attend the road accident? Who is more important, and who decides who lives, or who dies?

This argument is not just about keeping the special care baby unit, but the knock-on effects of losing this service. We will have reduced whatever remains of the maternity service, gynaecological services will disappear or change, and the children's ward will go.

Where would you go with the asthmatic child? Or for treatment for a broken leg? Which hospital would you be taken to? Ambulances take you to the nearest hospital, but if there is only one then that is no choice. The Labour Government say services "should be local to users". Is North Manchester General local to those in Rossendale or Ramsbottom?

These discussions affect every child, adult, parent and grandparent in Bury and the surrounding areas, and if people think this is purely about the SCBU then they must please think again. Once there is a reduction in A&E services there is a strong possibility that it will disappear altogether. Without doctors on the wards there are no specialists for A&E to call upon.

KAREN SILLETT,

Tottington Road, Bury