LIKE many other people must have been, I was horrified to read of the death of the young boy at Calderstones (LET, December 2).

I also agree with opinion that the care in the community policy has turned into a shambles after the closure of many of the hospitals.

Surely, there should have been a facility nearer the boy's home that would have been suitable for him if the people in Devon, who are in charge of services for the mentally ill or handicapped, were doing their jobs properly.

The staff who worked with him at Calderstones will have been devastated by his death.

I know this, having worked alongside these people for many years.

I know how professionally they do their jobs and how well they look after the people in their care. This is a tragic case and lessons must be learned.

It is hard enough for people to see their loved ones placed in hospitals like Calderstones without the added burden of placing 300 miles between them.

The Government must spend more money on services for the mentally ill and handicapped so that every health authority has a unit like Calderstones in its district.

D J WYNNE, Billington Gardens, Billington.

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