24 SEPTEMBER 2005, Page 21

From William Kelley

Sir: Ross Clark regrettably neglects to mention an important benefit afforded by local hospitals, viz. they limit the spread of infection. We are now in an unfortunate situation where antibiotics are becoming less effective at treating disease, and bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to medication.

The result of this is that new superbugs will emerge. The worst possible scenario when this happens is that all local hospitals will have been closed down, and large areas will be served by district general hospitals.

William Kelley London NW3