MADAM, We are grateful for your tolerance in allowing space for our views on funding for day-care centres for dementia sufferers.

While we realise the NHS has good intentions about the care of sufferers from dementia, we are very aware facilities in this county have been run down due to insufficient statutory funding for mental illness.

This has come about for a number of reasons,

a) the closure some years ago of St Mary's Hospital which meant fewer beds for those with dementia;

b) building a new hospital on a very restricted site has meant much less provision for those with Alzheimer's etc., and again many fewer beds;

c) closure of many specialist homes in all areas, not just Herefordshire, for the transfer of patients to long-term care, causing bed-blocking in our new hospital;

d) the number of ageing people in Herefordshire, possibly needing help in the future, grows proportionately as Herefordshire is a county to which people like to retire;

e) because of its rural environment, this places carers in a more isolated position. Transport is another problem, carers need all the help we can give them;

f) Fewer day-care centres dedicated to the care of dementia, (both older and younger patients). Three out of five run by the Alzheimer's Society have been forced to close because of lack of funding by the statutory authority.

We thank the Primary Care Trust for their moral support for our predicament, but we need their practical support, and as soon as possible. Carers and sufferers cannot continue to bear this burden without additional support and help.

PATRICIA WILKS,

Westfaling Street, Hereford.