THE Journal was there when the community needed a voice last year after the Evesham Community Hospital was threatened.

And we were there in 1995 when the Macmillan Unit was opened by the Princess Royal after much public subscription and support.

Now we are faced with another threat by another group of people who are supposed to have our interests at heart.

The South Worcestershire Primary Health Care Trust can be satisfied that it has shown its NHS masters that it has looked at every area of savings to spare its blushes in the embarrassment that is NHS funding. However, the SWPCT has gone too far. We demand public consultation.

These measures cannot be passed unilaterally and without talking to people.

But consultation should mean just that and not the lip-service to a government best practice dictate. These decisions should not be made without the express wishes of the people of Worcestershire being taken into consideration.

Last year, 30,000 people signed a petition to try and put a stop to that. Now we must unite for the latest battle to try and keep local services on line and supporting the sick and vulnerable in our society.

JOHN MURPHY, EDITOR