DEAR EDITOR - Astonishment, anger, disbelief! These are just a few of the more mild thoughts that passed through my mind when I saw the headlines on the front page of the Advertiser. Who please, is responsible for this act of lunacy? Or is it that the populace of Bromsgrove are not worth bothering about?

You've probably heard from me in the past when I've raised my voice against hospital management. As you may remember, I started work at Bromsgrove General Hospital in 1963, as a telephonist where for the next few years, we were managed by a matron, a deputy, a hospital secretary and deputy. To mine, and many other minds, the hospital ran quite smoothly and sensibly.

Then a few years before I retired in 1983, we saw the influx of departmental managers - many of whom were a useless waste of money. These managers have now grown in number until it seems there are more chiefs than indians! Little wonder there is apathy amongst the medical and nursing profession!

In conclusion, during my 20 years' service, I have seen the hospital both as a worker and as a patient and I have great admiration for the nurses and doctors. But management - well - perhaps I'd better leave it at that before I write something slanderous! Let me just say that I wouldn't pay some of them out in washers. But at 84 years of age, hope still springs eternal!

Mrs Warwick,

Peters Finger, Bromsgrove.