The article about elderly patients facing a 20-mile trip for hip aftercare (The Argus, November 21) led me to the following observations.

Janice Kent, from the independent patient and public involvement forum for Brighton and Sussex University Hospital's NHS Trust, is concerned about elderly patients from Brighton being whisked away to the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, where it will be hard for their elderly relatives to visit.

My wife is an elderly person who recently had a hip replacement at the orthopaedic centre, Haywards Heath, and had to travel to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton for aftercare and nobody was concerned about her journey.

Her next appointment at Brighton is in March 2008 and in view of Janice Kent's comments, perhaps she will be allowed to attend the Princess Royal?

  • Leo Hawkins, Commercial Road Burgess Hill