I THINK there is an urgent need for a community hospital for Royston and its satellite villages, due mainly to the large influx of population in the area during the past several years. The local population is ageing and this constitutes an increasing bur

I THINK there is an urgent need for a community hospital for Royston and its satellite villages, due mainly to the large influx of population in the area during the past several years. The local population is ageing and this constitutes an increasing burden on the elderly as they struggle to go to Addenbrooke's for medical attention, most of which are for minor problems. If their needs are for a chronic illness the distance to Addenbrooke's is almost insurmountable. There would be an immediate reduction of so much time spent on the roads and adding to the impossible parking problems at Addenbrooke's. A community hospital would also lessen the need for longer car journeys with all of the problems that this would bring. A local hospital would benefit from the pride of the locals to support "their" hospital as they have in the past. Our local GP's would build up a more easily manageable relationship with a local hospital with easily gathered information as to what is available for help instead of trying to compete with the huge demand on Addenbrooke's. I could go on, but most of what I have mentioned is common sense and I hope that this is taken in by our local and national government. The current White Paper may go a long way to see the realisation of once again having our own local hospital. PAUL ALEXANDER Fowlmere Road Heydon - THE Crow invited readers to Have Your Say on the Royston and District hospital. According to a plaque on the wall in the waiting area, this hospital was built in 1929 with funds amounting to £10,000 collected by fund-raising and a donation by the Red Cross. This building now provides 24 in-patient beds, a physiotherapy department, and X-ray department. In addition, there are approximately 16 out-patient clinics which provide a wonderful service. We do not have to drive to the Lister in Stevenage, find a parking place, pay for a parking space, wait in busy clinics, briefly see a consultant, who has not the time available, and then drive back. At Royston, an X-ray can be provided for the consultant to see then-and-there and the whole procedure is much more patient friendly. D E BRADSHAW CAROL BRADSHAW Layston Park Royston - I CONSIDER it important we have our own community hospital in Royston. So much could be done there, saving all the time, travel and expense for patients. Also, as I walk with difficulty, the long corridors of Addenbrooke's are daunting. My two children were born in Royston Hospital and my husband spent his last days there. I've recuperated there from operations in the past, and numerous other things. Maybe there could be a NHS dentist there in years to come. It would seem like the last piece of Royston heritage has gone should we lose it. Mrs PAULINE TURNER St Mary's Park Royston