Sir - It has come to my attention that the well-known and well-respected Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre could be closed, or handed over to some other organisation in the near future, with the facilities amalgamated into other hospitals.

This would be a catastrophe, not only for the local area, but also for the orthopaedic coverage for the whole country. It is well known as a centre of excellence in the field of orthopaedics.

Apart from anything else, the recent expenditure on new buildings would be completely wasted.

My wife was treated there some years ago for a knee replacement, and she could not have been better treated, both by the surgeons and the nursing staff.

Under no circumstances can the butchery of this first-class facility be allowed to take place.

K.R. Cresswell, Chalgrove