HAVING read our MP's column in your paper, I felt it couldn't go past without some comment about the health service.

We have heard from one of the consultants at the Alexandra Hospital about cancellations of operations. My own son has had to wait six months to get to see a consultant and yet Jacqui Smith doesn't seem to want to address the problems they are facing.

She should be apologising to the people of Redditch that waiting times are going up, that operations are being cancelled and that staff are leaving.

Tony Blair told the British electorate they had 24 hours to save the NHS - Labour are in their fourth year of making pathetic excuses.

Labour must realise that to provide better patient care, doctors and nurses and not ministers and Whitehall officials must take patient care decisions

Karen Lumley

Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Redditch

Aldermans Lane

Brockhill