I think that it is time for those who made the arrangements to close our hospital before arranging an alternative, and those negotiating to move the doctor’s surgery to call a public meeting in Dartmouth.

I do not mean that some poor unfortunates should be sent to do their best to explain and placate. We want to question the top people whose decision it was to close the hospital prematurely, sell the equipment paid for by Dartmouth residents and leave us with the barest of cover.

They should be on call, ready to explain their thinking and what they plan to do for the future. It would seem to me that serious mistakes were made which have left us now, and most probably for a long time in the future, with a much reduced and possibly dangerously bereft medical cover.

It never seems to be appreciated that we are an isolated community, 40 minutes from the nearest A&E, and longer when the ferries are not running, so the ‘golden hour’ has no practical meaning for any of us. We want to know what additional paramedical and ambulance services can be arranged.

To leave things as they are is simply not satisfactory.

H John Mitchell

Clarence Hill, Dartmouth