At a time when it is common to read horror stories of how hospitals have mistreated patients and misdiagnosed patients, it is reassuring to finally hear some good news ('Ashford excels in stroke table' Guardian, November 29).

According to research compiled by London's Imperial College School of Medicine, Ashford and St Peter rank in the top third of hospitals due to the low mortality rate of its admitted stroke patients.

And the reason for this? Because it provides specialist care.

Quality services such as this should therefore be nurtured and supported in the NHS, not placed at risk of closure.

Ashford Hospital has borne the brunt of some terrible treatment itself, at the hands of the government, in recent years which, in turn, places more pressure on St Peter's.

If Gordon Brown is serious about supporting the NHS (as he stated in his pre-Budget statement), then surely a good place to start would be Ashford.

I was born there and have been treated there on several occasions.

I, for one, would like it to remain at the centre of its community as a fully operational hospital providing all sorts of specialist care, from its emergency department, right through to its acute stroke unit.

G Pinon

Hithermoor Road

Staines