Sir, – We have learnt (D&S Times, Nov 14) that South Tees NHS Trust is required to make savings of £91m over the next three years. Would readers please advise me whether they think that the cuts will be borne mainly by the larger hospital, in the main population centre or, just possibly, might they fall disproportionately on the smaller element?

Surely the managers of the trust wouldn't use the cuts as an excuse, or smokescreen, to further reduce services provided at the Friarage in the way that recently happened with children's services at that well regarded establishment?

The managers will need to make a "business case" for what they provide and where they provide it. The arguments they advanced for the reduction in children's services, which amounted in brief to Friarage departments not having sufficient throughput of patients to meet modern training requirements for increasingly specialised staff, will be recycled to justify closing other departments. The only likely exception to this will be geriatric care. We've got enough throughput for that in Northallerton.

No doubt Friarage staff will already be scanning the job advertisements. Local residents should be preparing themselves for lengthy trips to Middlesbrough if they need anything more than a sticking plaster here in the sticks.

RUSSELL SMITH

Mill Hill Crescent, Northallerton.