I READ with shock the LET report on the poor response to the consultation documents on the future of East Lancashire Hospitals, mainly because it meant that the approximate 60,000 unpaid carers in the area had not taken the trouble to reply, although it is they who will suffer the knock-on effects of bed reductions and the extra pressure on resultant services.

They should be asking questions in the hospitals of the doctors who kick-start and monitor care for those patients who will never get better.

Who is more suited that these doctors to start the assessment process from day one of discharged, and communicate in minutes by email such information to GPs, community matrons, district nurses and social services?

This would be infinitely more preferable than the current system where the carer must request an assessment which is done by a non-medical person after a wait of about 13 weeks.

This could be followed by a six month wait if an occupational therapist is involved and a further if any aids are required.

Speeding up and improving services can only mean that fewer more vulnerable will need to be re-admitted to hospital which happens under the early discharge procedure.

So come on carers, fill in those forms and add your observations as requested, you are after the experts in home care and should be involved in care planning before, during and after hospital stays.

If you haven't had the form or have lost or thrown it away with the junk mail then get a new one by ringing 01254 293855or logging on to www.eastlancs.nhs.uk GERALD GRIFFITHS, Sawley Drive, Great Harwood.