OUR city is in the process of having a new state-of-the art hospital built. Many knowledgeable people have already questioned whether sufficient number of beds are going to be provided in this new hospital.

I now question whether Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is going to have worse nurse recruitment problems than they have at present.

Recruitment of nurses is difficult now, with many nursing posts going unfilled. This is already creating stress and low morale for existing staff.

Recruitment relies heavily on attracting student nurses to our area, who, it is hoped, will subsequently apply for these posts once qualified. Therefore is it a sensible decision to exclude all student accommodation in the new hospital.

Student nurses are paid a basic bursary of £5,280 per year. At present they have student accommodation costing £70 per month, inclusive of all services. Existing students have been informed they will loose this accommodation in February 2002, with no alternative offer from the Trust.

They have approached Housing Associations for help, but this has proved unsuccessful. At a modest estimate rented accommodation in this area is going to account for at least half of their bursary (£220 per month).

Does the Trust care what happens to the existing students? Have they not got a moral obligation to at least support these students, as they were recruited with the offer of student accommodation throughout their training.

Furthermore, what happens to future nurse recruitment if some of these students have to cease their training due to financial problems, and will future student recruitment be affected if accommodation is not provided?

TIM MILLIS, St John's, Worcester.