MADAM, I am replying to Mrs Hughes' letter from last week. The Nurses in the MI Unit are specifically trained for working in the unit, it is a Nurses lead unit without having to have Doctors.

The Friends aim is to support the Hospital and Local Community to make it a more pleasant place to stay or visit, to supply the extras which are not available through the NHS. They are not able to pay or send anyone on courses as they are not the employer.

The Hospital has had a 24 hour service since 1879. The people of Ross are very proud of their Hospital, they have worked hard over the years to support it. So to say we should not have a MI Unit is madness.

I hope Mrs Hughes or her family never have need to use it after hours as she may regret her comments.

Barbara Barter, Ross