Sir, – It is a regular occurrence in your letters page to find patients thanking our health service staff for the wonderful care they give in the York and North Yorkshire PCT area.

In the recent NHS report on health services, our local PCT did not reach the standards of excellence that the nurses, doctors, GP’s, paramedics and other health care staff deliver individually.

I am sure that your readers will agree that it is of great concern to us all that the PCT itself does not match the excellent service provided by its staff.

The Government has introduced many reforms but these seem to add more confusion.

They have increased spending, but failed to deliver important services effectively and created a system of general mis-management.

The people who operate the service provision know what is needed, but if the right level of targeted funding is not given, they cannot deliver what is needed, especially to rural communities.

This failure to recognise the need for more funding to rural areas exacerbates the unfairness and creates a postcode lottery for delivery of services and treatments.

The Government have failed our residents by refusing to recognise that it costs more to deliver services to deeply rural areas such as Hambleton and Richmondshire.

So, despite our excellent NHS staff in areas like Hambleton and Richmondshire we run the risk of a No Hope of Service NHS.

The Liberal Democrats believe that devolving power and control of our health services to a local level is the only way to make sure they are truly delivered locally, effectively and fairly.

People who live in rural areas should receive equal access to services and treatment.

Please be assured that I will, along with your local Liberal Democrat councillors, continue to fight at the highest level for control of NHS services delivery to be in the hands of local people for local people.

LINDA CURRAN PPC for Richmond Wellington Place, Richmond.