AT first glance, the closure of 67 beds at Wycombe Hospital appears a disaster but there do seem to be good reasons given that more people are now being able to be treated at home rather than having to spend time in hospital.

I also agree that creating hospitals with special treatment centres is a good idea. That way we get expert care when in the right hospital rather than trying to have hospitals providing a catch-all service which is not only expensive and a waste of resource that we can no longer afford.

As we are to lose 67 beds, what is going to happen to all that extra space? It would be wasteful to have to heat at least four wards with no one in them.

Now that the 67 beds are, in effect, being transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital where are all the extra staff going to park? Having sorted that out, where are all the visitors going to park? Parking at Stoke Mandeville is nigh on impossible these days, careful planning will be required before they move even one bed from Wycombe Hospital.

Having said all of the above, I am pleased to say that Care in the Community (the non- hospital part of Bucks NHS) is working well. Here is a recent example of just how excellent and joined up was the service I received two weeks ago: I went to the Chiltern House Surgery on Thursday 12th to see Dr Bray as I had a severe pain in my side. The doctor, after examining me, immediately arranged for me to have an urgent x-ray.

I phoned Radiology and they arranged to x-ray me at 08.40 on Friday 13th – the very next day!

On the 13th, the pain in my side was far worse but I managed to present myself for x-ray. The radiologist said the results would take about 14 days to reach the doctor. The pain was now so bad that I stopped off at the surgery on the way home to try to get some pain relief. The receptionist could see I was in a bad way and immediately contacted Sister Sue Hackshaw, who, after a brief chat with me organised a prescription with one of the doctors within about five minutes of my arriving – wonderful.

I took the prescription to the new drive-through chemist, Q2 Pharmacy in Hughenden Road. The assistant said the chemist was in a meeting and could I wait! I said no, I would go elsewhere as the pain was so bad; the assistant had a word with the chemist. In short I received the prescription at home in less than 15 minutes.

On Monday 16th, the doctor asked for me to come in as he had received my x-ray results! On attending, I was prescribed the appropriate medicine and am now fully recovered.

So fear not citizens of Bucks, I do believe that Bucks NHS really does care about us and are doing their level best to deliver an excellent service given the monetary constraints the nation is currently having to undergo.

Richard English, Earl Close, High Wycombe