I WONDER if our local New Labour MP, Mr Michael Foster, could explain something to me.

I am puzzled to read in the Chancellor's latest spending review that many hundred million pounds are to be spent on training more doctors, nurses and increasing hospital beds.

In our long-awaited new hospital we are to have fewer beds, and presumably, fewer doctors and nurses.

We are told that it doesn't matter. The authorities, including the Health Minister, have checked the figures and this lower number of beds will be good for us they say.

I am puzzled. Which do I believe? Has the Government had a change of heart and the nation needs more hospital beds, or does it mean more hospital beds are needed except in Worcestershire?

Or is it the usual smoke and mirrors that we have come to expect of New Labour? We came to expect that from the Conservatives so the people chucked them out.

No wonder people are not bothering to vote when the occasion arises.

T A JAMES,

Drakes Broughton,

Pershore.