I WRITE to endorse and applaud your Lancashire Telegraph Comment column of March 16.

The closure of Burnley’s A & E in 2007 was, of course, the subject of the farcical consultation process we pretend to use. In a so-called democratic society, 60,000 signatures vetoed this for the time Now, having abandonded the care of the elderly and vulnerable in this country, they now propose to close a quarter of beds down across East Lancs hospitals – again, because there is no cash left in budgets set in previous years.

The budgets were set, managed and agreed by managers from chief executives right up to health ministers particularly prominent at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Having exhausted hitting the elderly, they now turn on the infants.

And make no bones about it, consultation or not, Burnley will lose its Children’s Unit. No lessons learnt, then.

Ribble Valley residents are still in shock following the decision in January 2010 to abandon the rebuilding of Clitheroe Hospital.

Money had already been ring- fenced in 2008/09. Further, we would also like to know where exactly has that money disappeared to.

ERNEST LAW-RIDING, Ribchester.