The government and Labour MPs have been trumpeting the glorious achievements in providing more funds for the health service.

They seem rather more coy when transforming words into action.

The last information from the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority was that it was imposing a virtual ban on the following services in St George's and St Helier Hospitals - vasectomy, sinus surgery, varicose veins, some hernias, some cataracts, some hip and knee replacements, hysterectomies.

These procedures are all of low priority and will be funded only in exceptional circumstances.

This clamp down has been forced through as part of the MSWHA's attempt to bridge its £23 million funding gap. Financial chaos in the authority has left St George's Trust £5.5million short. Some of the necessary economies will involve sacking staff and the Secretary of State has already admitted health service staff are once more having to bear the brunt of governmental back door public sector pay policy.

So when you next hear someone telling us about all the money that is being 'poured into' the health service, remember what our own Health Authority is saying about what is happening to our services.

DEREK ROBERTS

Sherwood Park Road, Mitcham

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.