THE confusing letter (January 13) from Cllr Christopher Peacock, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, requires some clarification if he wishes to reassure the public about the changes in the intermediate care service.

When I was in the Winifred Kettle Intermediate Care Centre for two weeks last October to avoid the Council having to incur the cost of providing carers at home, I understood that it was closing in the new year. Has it closed already?

He says "Since we redesigned the service there are now more than 100 more people accessing and receiving care through this service on a monthly basis, both in beds and in their own homes.

The public have not been given any details of the redesigned service. How many beds were there in the intermediate care centres before and how many are there now? Where are they? Will the figures take into account the position at Winifred Kettle?

Approximately how many patients are there at the Royal Bolton Hospital at any one time waiting for an intermediate care bed or for care services to be set up at home?

The public will need some more detailed information if he wishes to reassure us that the closure or proposed closure of the Winifred Kettle Intermediate Care Centre will not have an adverse effect upon the A & E Department.

R Swindells

Bolton