I READ the article about the £40m hospital plan (Hereford Times, January 29) with amazement and disquiet.

Herefordshire, which has always been a widespread rural community, had four major hospitals – St Mary's at Burghill, Victoria Eye, General and County hospitals – to serve the population.

Those responsible for the provision of the new hospital closed and sold off St Mary's, Victoria and the General. We have never been given the figures for the sales of those huge and prestigious sites.

But we know that a lot of extra housing capacity was provided by those sites so it was obvious that Hereford was set to expand massively. So what did they provide us with? A smaller hospital to look after an expanding population!

The new hospital was provided through the infamous PFI method at a massive cost and those in charge had to provide the services the population needed while complying with the terms of PFI which included the maintenance of the new hospital.

Now we are informed that they have failed to carry out £11 million of maintenance and yet more borrowing will be needed.

All this borrowing to provide inadequate facilities which are poorly maintained and overcrowded. Where were the planners and statisticians?

Ever since the inception of the NHS in 1948 the government has known the size of the population through census information. They have a whole department to work out population trends and know what services and facilities would be needed and even what money would be available through taxation.

The 1947 baby boom produced the increasing numbers of older people we have today. The authorities have had plenty of time to plan, build and put in place the level of care needed. Why didn't they do their jobs? Why didn't the local authorities have their own information as to what facilities, schools, housing and services were needed? Who is responsible for the monumental mismanagement of taxes, facilities and planning? Someone should be held to account.

It is no coincidence that the NHS shortfall this winter has taken place in new hospitals provided through PFI across the country.

Local communities have complained that the facilities are inadequate and no-one listens.

In the May election is there any party that will listen and serve the population? I don't think so.

SANDRA LAWRENCE Burghill