Hearing hospital waiting lists are longer than ever, I am reminded that local pensioners are denied access to Bart's, which, though within walking distance, is standing largely unused.

Nearly six years since the disastrous Tomlinson report, public support for Bart's is as strong as ever (Letters, 14 May), and the Save Bart's Campaign is still active (Letters, 7 May).

Of course there should no longer be a need for the Save Bart's Campaign. Before the election the Labour Party promised to 'save and restore' Bart's.

Health secretary Frank Dobson has decided that it will continue 'with a focus on cancer and cardiac services' and a new hospital will be built at Whitechapel. Why?

Why is a hospital with the capacity of Bart's, with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities housed in its historic and enduring buildings to be needlessly down-scaled?

Why are Bart's doctors still not putting their heads above the parapet?

Why are managers being allowed to continue to run the hospital down?

And why, oh why, is Bart's still under the management of the people put in place to close it?

Angela Sinclair,

Secretary,

Islington Pensioners' Forum.