I have read the write up on the renal department at St Helier and found out that St Helier is the main unit, not just for Sutton, but for nearly all of Surrey, a large area of Sussex and some in Kent.

Some of the people who have attended St Georges before St Helier, would never go back because it doesnt treat patients as people, St Georges gives them numbers saying: number one get changed, 32 you may go etc.

But in St Helier they are on first name terms with patients, its almost like a family. The staff have saved the lives of a lot of people.

St Georges is no longer amalgamated with St Helier, it has joined with St Thomass. And why St Helier joined Epsom beggars belief.

It has cost St Helier millions, they have to cut back on operations, saying they have to, reduce theatre time.

When they first talked about joining Epsom they told a pack of lies saying people in Sutton and Carshalton need not worry.

There was meant to be a study in saving money on administration.

If they want a special kidney unit, build one in the grounds of Sutton Hospital. While theyre at it, build a heart unit, with experienced surgeons, a neurology unit and get some experienced orthopaedic surgeons who can operate on the spine.

Dr Doyle should put the money into St Helier not St Georges or Epsom. Dr Yvonne Doyle should look at Sutton, the possibilities are ideal. But not at St Georges.

Everyone has to realise that St Helier and Plymouth are the only two units for the whole of Surrey.

I worked for the London Ambulance Service (LAS) for 30 years. When I retired, I continued to work for the LAS, in their car service.

A lot of my journeys were deep into Surrey and Sussex, to pick up and then to take home patients from, and to, St Helier. To move to St Georges could deprive a lot of sick people of the treatment that they need to stay alive. St Helier unit must not close down.

When you live in Guildford, Dorking, Farncombe, Godalming and so on, you want to go to a hospital like St Helier where you are treated as a friend, not a number.

I have picked patients up from next door to the Royal Surrey building. You would think that they would have some equipment, but no.

Its just as bad if you have a chest pain, Epsom can do very little, they transfer you to East Surrey who are unable to do much more. Then they transfer you to the Royal Surrey so, do you honestly think it is right to close the unit at St Helier?

St Georges cannot handle what its got thats why they joined St Thomass Hospital.

St Helier must be given full support, and their money should stop going to Epsom. St Heliers consultants have given their lifetime to the hospital, they deserve and must be given support.

The kidney unit is special to St Helier and must remain so, with full backing by everybody including Dr Doyle.

R HOLMES

Waltham Road

Carshalton