Rationalising and concentrating services may be a positive proposal in regard to certain specialities but vital maternity services and accident and emergency departments should not be included, given that time is of the essence in many life or death cases dealt with by these services. Emergency services are the deciding factor in life or death incidents. With public confidence in the health services at an all-time low, the people must be consulted and their wishes taken into consideration before their money is once again spent on ill-conceived and unpopular options.