ROY?G?PHILLIPS, of St Joseph's Court, Carlton Place, Teignmouth, writes:

With reference to last week's letter headed Hospital must not lose so many vital facilities, it is my firm conviction – shared by many other Teignmouth residents – that not only must Teignmouth Hospital not lose any vital facililties, more facilities should be added until all but the most serious cases can be treated near to residents' homes and families.

For weeks, your newspaper has published many articles and letters about these proposed changes to our hospital and, in doing so, has made it abundantly clear it is the wish of Teignmouth residents to have more, not fewer, facililties available at their local hospital. This back door drive to continually cut public services is a false economy and places unnecessary stresses, strains and problems on this most vital of all services.

This back door movement towards a National Health Service similar to the health provision on offer in the United States is a betrayal of all that our families and friends fought and died for. To me it is the only real positive outcome for all citizens arising out of the second world war. The true horrors of a US-style health service are, as yet, little comprehended by most people.

As a large number of my family live in the US, I know at first hand what it is like if you cannot afford to pay. For those with money, the US offers a heatlh service that is the equal of anywhere. But for the greater majority, all that is on offer is a service and treatment only at the level they can afford to pay for – where you weigh up the doctors' or hospitals' prescribed treatment against their constant drive for profit.

The United Kingdom is supposed to be the sixth richest country in the world, yet the true wealth of a nation – its people – are increasingly being subject to 'market forces'. Is this what so many service personnel and ordinary citizens paid the ultimate price for?

One positive piece of news on Page 13 last week is the proposal to site all GP surgeries under one roof – this the district council can do as part of the long-delayed redevelopment of the Brunswick Street area.