ONCE again it appears that health chiefs have got their way regarding the planned closure of Bury General Hospital.

They say that the public response to the three-month consultation was "disappointing", but that is no reason to try to bring about its demise.

I think there are three reasons for this seeming lack of interest . . .

Most people who don't use Bury General do not realise the devastating effect its closure will have on many of its patients.

Some never really thought that Bury General would be on the "hit list", following reassurances that both our major hospitals would be left open after the closure, a few years ago, of Florence Nightingale.

Others I have spoken to are of the opinion that the whole thing was a foregone conclusion and that it was useless bothering with the consultation after the way that Florence Nightingale was closed on a point of law.

I would like to know what happened to our petition - containing a huge number of names - which was left at the hospital to be passed on to health chiefs. It has been stated that there will be bed losses. Will there also be job losses?

It has also been said that there will be a new road and better access to Fairfield. Can health officials therefore reassure nearby residents and shop-keepers that their properties will not be flattened to make way for this scheme?

A member of the local health authority recently admitted to me that people may have to go to Rochdale for their treatment in future. And an ex-ambulance driver has said that the road up to Fairfield hospital is always tricky and would be dangerous to use - more so in winter and in times of emergency.

Could someone from the health authority publicly deny that Bury General has already been sold to go "private". Its closure amazes everyone I have spoken to, particularly in view of all the extra money being invested in the NHS for new hospitals, for repairs and for extra staff.

Why should Bury General be left out when it serves Bury and district so magnificently and when so many are opposed to the loss of its irreplaceable services.

ERNEST WATKINS,

(friends of Bury General).

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