Sir, – Darlington should not settle for second best.

A and E services are being split into two divisions major emergency departments and emergency departments. Out of 181 A and E departments at the moment in England only between 40 and 70 are to be major emergency departments with the other 111 being relegated to the second division.

We need a full Accident and Emergency department for the massive area the Memorial Hospital serves. You have to go to Kendal or Carlisle before you find another hospital to the west.

People need to be lobbying hard against these proposals to split A and E into two categories. The problem with Sir Bruce Keogh's proposal is once split into two divisions it will be very easy for the men from the ministry to strip services out of the second division emergency departments salami slice by salami slice until there is only a walk-in centre left.

If you wanted to close 111 A and E departments this is the way you would start. You can verify these disturbing new developments on page 9 in a document called Right First Time 24/7 on the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust website.

We are just five months away from council elections and a general election but your elected representatives say they do not see any danger. Is this because they rubber stamped the policy and already put up the signs?

NIGEL F BODDY

Fife Road, Darlington.