IF an individual decides to attack members of their family with a sledgehammer for no logical reason, it is not long before their insanity is recognised and managed. Why, then, are the Primary Care Trusts unable to self-diagnose their own madness? Sledg

IF an individual decides to attack members of their family with a sledgehammer for no logical reason, it is not long before their insanity is recognised and managed.

Why, then, are the Primary Care Trusts unable to self-diagnose their own madness?

Sledgehammers are being wielded hither and forth within our national health system by our health care managers in their scramble to cut costs. Making up for previous budgeting errors has become their prime role, caring for the health of their constituents appears to be of little concern. If this behaviour is left unattended, the consequences are far more dangerous than allowing a single insane individual to be let loose in our society.

Contrary to numerous rumours, in Ely, for example, the Octagon and the Lantern surgeries are not to be closed - amalgamated perhaps but not closed. While our sledgehammer-wielding bureaucrats appear to sack valuable staff at a whim, rumours spread, patients scramble to find other doctors and the whole system is in turmoil.

Meanwhile, in spite of the spreading alarm and insecurity, the remaining loyal patients and staff doggedly soldier on, getting on with the real business of health care while the world about them degenerates into a fog of Canute-style insanity. How much better it would be if patients, staff and managers were of one mind?

Until the managers of our cumbersome health system come to their senses and cut costs by streamlining administrative and bureaucratic procedures and until they make supportive and effective health care their prime role, the spiral of bureaucratic insanity will continue to lead this country into the black hole of poverty-stricken third-rate healthcare that eventually no one would wish to support. The primary care trusts are on the path that will cause nothing but a failing healthcare service and their own demise.

ROSEMARY WESTWELL

Witchford