Sir, – After some of the maternity services were withdrawn from the Friarage Hospital, it was with dismay that I read that you should no longer take your sick child to the A&E department at night as services were being scaled down.

My husband has received treatment there and has also had to go to Newcastle and James Cook Hospitals. We were told by staff at both hospitals that the long term aim was to close the Friarage Hospital. This is an outrage. How are people supposed to get to hospital if the Friarage closes? We were told at Newcastle that, when asked if we were satisfied with everything, we said yes apart from the travelling. We were then told that we should not live in the country. I had also asked what happened if I could not drive and had to get to James Cook? I was told to get a taxi.

The bus service is being reduced in this area (with more to come apparently) and people are going to struggle with getting to Northallerton.

We settled in the Richmond area as at the time there were three hospitals – St John of God, Duchess of Kent at Catterick (which was built with the aid of NHS money) and the Friarage. We could be left with none. So mobilise and fight these cuts. We may not have a hospital to go to soon.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD