I WISH to express my horror at the proposed closure of Ward 38 where my late husband was treated (Fourth ward identified in closure programme, April 4).

Patients with the conditions covered by Ward 38 face some very frustrating symptoms - loss of speech, dribbling, depression, loss of mobility, to name but a few.

You cannot put these patients on a medical ward.

Unless you have experience of such conditions the general public would not understand how these patients feel.

At one stage of my late husband's illness we first went to a medical ward, then to Ward 32, until a bed was available on 38.

Only then did he feel safe and relaxed as the dedicated team there were the only ones who knew how he felt, and knew how to deal with his specialised problem.

Barbara Turner, Copmanthorpe, York.