I WAS somewhat puzzled to read (Bury Times, Nov 5) that Bury Health Care Trust does not believe a second access road to the upgraded Fairfield General Hospital is necessary.

To rely solely on one busy 'B' road to access the town's future Accident and Emergency Hospital would be foolhardy and so I would hope that those concerned have since given this issue the consideration it deserves and realised their mistake.

Was there any input to their deliberations from the emergency services and the health authority? When the transfer of services from Bury General to Fairfield General was considered, and the people of Bury consulted by the health authority and the Community Health Council, very few objections were raised on the understanding that better services would be the end result. Having been successful in securing the funding for the development of Fairfield, work has already started on the new A&E department.

It is now up to the local authority to do everything they can to ensure that the services - in particular Accident & Emergency - are not compromised by inadequate access.

It isn't as if this would be a major works project but what we all need is the local authority's support in demanding the necessary resources from the Government. We expect the local authority to work closely with the relevant statutory organisations to ensure that pressure is brought to bear on Government and that funding for the essential second access to our district general hospital is secured.

CONCERNED RESIDENT

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