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Frankly you're wide of the mark
1/12/2005
FRANK Manc (Metro News, November 25) is wrong to support the
government's dramatic health cuts in Trafford. His views are only
likely to be shared by Labour Party apologists lacking the backbone
to condemn the Health Secretary's plans to close Altrincham General
Hospital.
I'm sure Frank was being a tad tongue-in-cheek with his "all Tories
have cars anyway" line. The trouble is a lot of the most vulnerable
people in Trafford do not have cars.
What should a pregnant single mother with two young children do
when one of her kids falls off the climbing frame and needs
immediate attention? Should she grab her brood, jog down the road,
take a couple of buses to Wythenshawe Hospital and then queue up
for a few hours at A&E? Seems a bit harsh.
At the moment she can pop down to Altrincham's excellent minor
injuries unit and get her son seen to quickly and expertly. What
about an 85-year-old war veteran from Broadheath. Why should he
have to make a tortuous journey across the borough to get a blood
sample taken, when it can be done in five minutes at Altrincham
General Hospital?
The cuts and closures aren't part of some great masterplan. They've
happened because the government cannot manage its health finances
properly, having frittered away too much on overheads.
Altrincham General is a fine hospital, much-loved (and well used)
by local residents. It just needs some proper capital spend.
Cllr Stephen Ogden, Altrincham
FROM the way he writes, I suspect Frank Manc has never had to
attend Wythenshawe Hospital or the MRI.
Parking in both places is horrendous, whereas on my four regular
trips to Altrincham General I get a taxi from home, which costs me
£8. If I had to go to Trafford or Wythenshawe I would need an
ambulance.which would be extra for the NHS.
The minor ops clinic at Altrincham was great - handy and hardly any
waiting time. I am now needing a minor operation at Trafford and
the waiting list is six months.
We love our general and the staff and I would be very disappointed
if the doors close.
Joan Sutherland, Timperley
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