I HAVE spent most Sunday afternoons for the past three years from 3pm till 5pm playing music for the patients as part of the Evesham Hospital Radio team.

We aim to play music that the majority of patients want to hear, because we have asked them about their taste in music and we also get feedback about how they feel and how they are treated at the hospital.

At least 90% of the patients I talk to feel safe and are more than happy with the level of care.

Sometimes I speak to either husband/wife or relative, whoever is pushing the wheelchair with a stroke victim on their way to or from the canteen. Some of the more elderly carers are worried out of their mind about their loved ones and admit they would be unable to cope on their own at home.

My first impression of Evesham Hospital is the same as now, a local, clean friendly Hospital with a dedicated and caring staff team.

I cannot imagine Mike Ridley proposing to make such drastic cuts unless he was desperate. Presumably he hopes that if enough local people create a fuss the Government might cough up.

I voted for the Labour Government the time before last as I thought at the time they really cared about the less fortunate. The Government can waste money on a stupid Dome, go to war in Iraq and contemplate spending an absolute fortune on identity cards. What about the patients and families in the Evesham area, Mrs Hewitt? Show some compassion please.

The proposal to close two wards is a kiss of death - patients travelling for miles for treatment and stroke victims having to cope with their disabilities at home.

ALAN WARMINGTON, Hill Furze, Pershore.