WHAT is to become of the town’s hospital care if someone doesn’t sit up and smell the roses?

In the 1960s Andover had a population of 17,000. In the 2011 census it had increased to approximately 62,000 and growing! Yet we still have the same facilities.

Instead of whinging about the lack of a Primark or a department store focus on campaigning for better health care within the town.

The X-ray department is a joke. It is like something from the 50s. The staff never seem happy in that little corner of history and more often or not have a long queue pouring out to the draughty corridor.

Phlebotomy (blood department) very often has a waiting time of from 30 minutes (acceptable) to one hour 15 minutes (not acceptable).

Both these departments I have visited on many occasions so have firsthand experience.

I have all the time in the world to sit in these places and have a blue badge so no parking fee. But I am there because I have ill health like the majority and I voice this for some worse off than I am.

We must be grateful that consultants still visit, which saves us going to Winchester, Basingstoke or Southampton, but we certainly are the poor relations of the local NHS.

On the plus side maternity, physio and the hospice must be praised for their contribution to the community.

Similar subject, different question. When is a new doctors’ surgery to be opened?

The existing ones will have their books full soon.

I returned to hospital on February 14 at 9am for a blood test. The number on the sign was ‘33’. My ticket was ‘80’ meaning I had 57 people in front of me.

One elderly man had been sitting there since 7.45. A note on the machine said there is a 90-minute wait.

A few minutes later a nurse came out and apologised saying the wait would now be two hours and suggesting people ring for an appointment rather than wait. Yesterday things got heated in that department and police had to be called to calm the situation! Not good.

Mary Selwood, Hepworth Close, Andover