AS an old Blackburnian, I will be sorry to see Blackburn Royal Infirmary close.

But having read the reasons given about transfers between Queen's Park and there, I can understand the problems.

I do not know what the health authority plan to do with the place but I do know that for the first few years of my life there was a huge sign in Bolton Road which said the place was supported only by voluntary contributions. So I wonder:

Could it remain open in some way supported again by voluntary contributions, having been given back to the people who once supported it?

Could it be run by some of those people who have made a very good living from the health service and want to give something back to the people?

Could it be run by volunteer staff?

Could it be used for operations and the like on people who are deemed too old for heart surgery?

Could it be used as a huge convalescent home?

I sincerely feel that it should not be allowed to disappear.

K HALLIWELL, Bolton Road, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.