I AM more than 80 years old and live alone. My family lives in the north of England and when I needed to reach Ronkswood Hospital, Worcester, I was driven there and back by volunteers in their own cars, for which I am very grateful.

On arrival I was shocked to see the reception office - crammed full of desks in a row and equipment in this tiny, stuffy room. My driver kindly took me to the ward and carried my small bag.

I looked at the ward in astonishment - patients lined up each side in beds so close together that they could have touched hands with their neighbours. There was one passage between the rows in which a group of doctors were talking.

I was taken into the ward and through into an annexe. This had been built recently and apparently only used in the week, but not at weekends due to staff problems and shortages. This was a little better, but nothing like my own hospital at Kidderminster. I was given a bed upon which a notice had been attached.

It was in red block capitals and read: Beware, faulty brakes!

The nursing staff were kind, helpful and efficient - they took meticulous care in writing up notes. As is the custom, I had starved myself since the night before and was prepared for theatre in the late afternoon.

The journey to the theatre was down the middle of that crowded ward, and then along the bumpiest path imaginable for a hospital corridor to the theatre.

At one point, the porter apologised saying: "Sorry, but we are coming to a bit of a step here!" The theatre staff were wonderful.

In the past, many, many of these less complicated operations took place at Kidderminster, and because of this, less pressure was put on hospitals dealing with the more complicated procedures.

There must be specialist hospitals but it does not make sense to wipe out efficient smaller ones in the process.

Kidderminster was a very efficient hospital and also extremely successful.

We want it back, so that it can be used again by all the people living in the catchment area.

MRS YOUNG, SRN, SCM,

Bewdley.