TWO headings in the Andover Advertiser dated July 27 sent alarm bells ringing: 1). ‘Merger plan for Charities — A ‘no brainer’ say chiefs’.

How dare they insult the people in such a way? The late Henry Gammon gave that land to build a hospital for the people of Andover, the late Edmund Parsons started the Andover carnivals to raise money and my late Grandpa help to raised money to build the hospital.

It is a community hospital for the community and I am sure the community of Andover will look to help the hospital. Until this article no one knew of the problems.

Why has it all been kept under wraps what is going on?

For instance, I will volunteer to be secretary and I am sure there are companies in Andover who would only be too happy to help by providing staff to do the accounts.

The problems are it has all been kept under wraps.

The proposed merger is fraught with imponderables.

How could you ever be sure that the money raised by Andover people is spent in Andover?

As stated North Hampshire Medical Fund has paid staff.

How much are these professional fund raisers being paid and who pays them? Are they being paid from monies collected?

A few years ago I gave the Friends of Andover Hospital approximately £1,200 which was money left from fund raising to save the maternity hospital some years earlier, to be ring fenced for the Maternity Unit I would like to know what has happened to that money?

The article states that the Friends of Andover Hospital have £51,000 and that will be ring- fenced for Andover. How will you know that is used for Andover? Why not spend that money now on Andover or the hospice then we are sure it has been spent in Andover.

If the chair and trustees do not wish to carry on, then please resign and let us have some new trustees and members who do want to work for Andover Hospital.

The government and indeed HRH Prince Charles has stated that we need to have communities working together. What better way to have a good community than all working together for our hospital.

If there are other people in Andover who feel the same way as I do please contact me on 07765 678584 and let us have an effective good working Friends of Andover Hospital for Andover.

2). ‘Service Suspended’.

Births at Andover Hospital Maternity Unit has been suspended.

Apparently from the beginning of July, but only at the end of July is it reported.

As one who led the campaign the save Andover Maternity Unit with Dr Tim James and the midwives I am very concerned at this news.

I know there is a shortage of midwives but I fear for the future of the unit as it states Andover differs from other units as it operates as a community hub which supports births through a domino model. What is wrong with that.

Over the years there have been many attempts to close Andover Maternity Unit. Andover is different because we do not have any resident consultants.

Having said that the unit is always very popular with mothers and they are much happier in Andover than in the larger hospital.

We understand that some mothers have no alternative than to go to the larger units where consultants and equipment are on hand.

I really hope this is not a back door attempt to close this unit which is vital to Andover.

Jill Hannington, Hillside Court, Weyhill Road, Andover