As leading members of the Edgware hospital campaign, we were deeply involved in the design of the services at Edgware Community Hospital, basing our contribution on detailed knowledge of the NHS in west Barnet.

We were concerned that the final provision was significantly below planned capacity and proposed closer links with the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, as a solution.

We opposed the Barnet-Chase merger and expressed great anxiety about the proposals for changing the configuration of the NHS.

We therefore welcome the statement by the political consensus (Cross-party attack on hospital plans', October 5) demanding that the future of the NHS in Barnet be a link between Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free, rather than Chase Farm. There must be full development of Edgware Community Hospital. In our view this proposition should have been included with the options in consultation currently taking place - an omission that now must be corrected. The proposition has our full support and we hope to contribute to its implementation.

Dr Albert Manning, The Drive, Edgware