I UNDERSTAND the comments of recent correspondents to HAS (HAS, April 1) regarding the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND) and Bishop Auckland. What I can't understand are the comments made by Bishop Auckland MP, Helen Goodman. She is either unaware of the history of this problem or has "selective memory syndrome".

Prior to the private finance initiative (PFI) we in North Durham had Shotley Bridge, with 350 beds, and Dryburn, with more than 500 beds, both had A&E facilities. PFI left us with UHND with 454 beds and an A&E. In the week ending July 20, 2002, seven operations were cancelled. On the official opening day, July 26, 2002, cancellations also occurred, entirely due to lack of beds.

Between July and December 2002 I wrote to Alan Milburn (the then Secretary of State for Health), Tony Blair, my MP, Kevan Jones, and Ken Jarrold CBE, (CEO of County Durham and Tees Valley Heath Authority), highlighting shortcomings and concerns over the situation. The result was acknowledgements from the MPs; and a meeting with John Saxby, (CEO at UHND), in March 2003. At this meeting Mr Saxby admitted the shortcomings in bed provision and also that he hoped to revamp the A&E facility as they were considered inadequate.

In January 2003, Dr Don MacKechnie, chairman of the BMA's A&E committee said: "all A&E departments are under intense pressure and do not have enough beds to admit emergency cases.” Dr Bill Ryder, chairman of the BMA's Northern Region Consultants’ Committee, said: "The acute bed situation in almost every hospital trust in the country is diabolical at the moment. I am so fed up with the situation that I am on the verge of quitting.” In February 2003, Prof Paul Gregg, president of the British Orthopaedic Assocation, speaking about delays for joint replacement said: “The main problems are lack of beds, specialist nurses, and anaesthetists.”

The problems were just as bad under Labour as they are now.

After 12 years the current plan for new emergency facilities at UHND is most welcome. The sooner it is completed the better.

Tom Pattinson. Stanley.