THE decision to temporarily close the GWH to all but life-threatening emergencies will renew concerns that the hospital does not have adequate capacity.

Critics will again accuse the planners of failing to allow for the town's continued growth and for what should have been foreseeable seasonal pressures on health care services.

Nobody doubts the dedication, professionalism and hard work of the hospital staff, or the concern of the management team. And we are all aware that surplus beds and wards cannot be provided to stand empty and waiting in case there is a winter flu epidemic.

Clearly, however, more thought and increased resources must be given to a solution of this problem, which also occurred last year and is likely to happen again next year.

Meanwhile we, the public, could help simply by asking ourselves whenever we cut a finger or develop a temperature whether we really do need to seek the help of the hospital's accident and emergency unit.

If you think you might have broken a leg, or you are seriously worried about a child with a high fever, a visit to A & E is obviously called for.

A grazed knee or a gippy tummy is something else altogether.