A RECENT survey found that a very high proportion of people want to be able to chose where they have their hospital care.

However, this cannot be reconciled with the development of specialist units in our region’s hospitals.

Take, for instance, the children’s heart unit at the Freeman, in Newcastle, who would want to go anywhere else?

The Friarage, in Northallerton, has become a centre for elective orthopeadic operations, with trauma being carried out at James Cook, in Middlesbrough.

If the findings of the survey were to be acted upon, then every hospital would go back to providing every service, and, because there are more of us wanting the best quality care, that would mean limited services due to cost, space, nursing staff availability, specialist surgeons and waiting lists.

Surely Andrew Lansley is shooting himself in the foot?

Chris Kirk, Brompton.