I READ with concern the possibility that the accident and emergency department at Fairfield General Hospital might close, with the services currently available being provided elsewhere ('Plan to strip Fairfield of acute surgery', Bury Times, December 1).

Should this happen then it necessarily follows that there will be a reduction in beds across the borough and ultimately, the hospital will close.

If there isnt an accident and emergency department there will not be a need for those beds currently available for patients admitted via that department, i.e. medical, surgery, orthopaedic, gynaecology, psychiatry and so on. Add to those the lack of maternity and paediatric services - including neonatal - and what is left? It will be extremely uneconomical to maintain other clinics on the site, so they too will go.

If emergencies are taken elsewhere, ambulances will have to travel further on increasingly congested roads and therefore be out of the area for longer.

The same applies to the general public of Bury MBC who will have to travel further for hospital services. On reaching their destination, car owners will then have to find somewhere to park; those requiring public transport will be in great difficulty; waiting times will increase as will waiting lists, therefore morbidity and mortality rates will also increase.

The cynic in me says that this is what the government wants in view of its problems on the pensions front, although I am sure this will be vehemently denied.

It seems to me that the population of this metropolitan borough are continually treated with contempt by our elected government. Look how much rate support grant we get compared to other areas - and we continually put up with it. Where are our MPs?

People of Bury MBC this is exceedingly important, make your voices heard. Let this mouse roar.

MICHAEL WYATT

Tintern Avenue

Whitefield