DISTURBED by rumours and reports in the newspaper, we attended the public meeting on Monday about the proposed closure of the special care baby unit and children's services at Fairfield General Hospital.

We were shocked to realise that the proposals were real and, without dissent, are likely to be implemented.

At the end of 2002, the population of Bury was 181,300 of which almost 31,000 were children, from new born to 12-years-old. Whatever the figures now, it will still be a lot of babies and nursery and primary school children.

Members of the Strategic Health Authority, who declined to attend the meeting, propose that children taken ill in Bury -- emergency or otherwise -- are taken to Oldham, Rochdale, North Manchester, or wherever else, for treatment and hospitalisation. A baby experiencing sudden life-threatening problems during birth will also have to be taken at speed to those same locations.

There will not be the paediatric skills, nor the resources, to help these children in Bury no matter how vital each minute will be. It doesn't bear thinking about, it is absolute lunacy -- there cannot be any other explanation.

Do any of the people who arrive at these decisions have children, grandchildren, or expectant relatives living in Bury? We doubt it. Neither do we expect them to have considered the difficulties of parents nor the stress they will experience having to leave their children in distant locations. Not everyone has a car, or the means to pay for transport over those distances day after day.

Please everyone, protest as loud and for as long as you can. The proposals must be challenged vigorously or else we will lose these important services.

Be warned, accident and emergency will be next if they see we are complacent about this. We will have given them a blank canvas.

MRS & MRS M. CORNER,

Lowercroft Road,

Bury.