The NHS consultation regarding remodelled services at Halton and Warrington Hospitals appeared to have the impact less of a bang and more of a whimper. I do not find this surprising, as I received my out-patient appointment for the chronic pain clinic, to be held now at Halton, several months before the consultation was announced.

While inconvenient, I have a car and can travel the extra distance relatively easily. I feel sad that someone from Warrington without their own transport would now have to take several buses or taxis in order to get to Halton and back to visit someone. Visiting more than once a day would be virtually impossible, not to mention expensive, and particularly difficult for the elderly and disabled.

Someone critically ill in Runcorn will now have to be transported to A&E at Warrington Hospital. Surely the time delay will have an impact on their prognosis?

Was this really a consultation', or another pointless bureaucratic exercise? Perhaps organisations get increased funding or other Government incentives if they can state they had a public consultation. It is patronising to ask for views when the decisions have already been made.

David Wheeler Grappenhall