Dear Editor:

Last night I woke up with a rash on my body. I called St. Andrews Hospital to see if the emergency department was open. It was open.

Living in Boothbay Harbor, it was a short drive to the hospital. I was met by Dr. Daniel Bates and his emergency department team. They did a professional job of giving me the medicine for my rash and an order for medicine at the Rite Aid pharmacy.

When St. Andrews Hospital is closed, the Boothbay region will also lose Dr. Bates and his good emergency department team.

This is America. How can a profitable hospital with its excellent emergency department be shut down?

Miles Memorial Hospital is too far away, being a 40-mile round trip, for me to drive on the winding unlit road.

By all means, keep St. Andrews Hospital’s emergency department open.

Edgar Reed
Boothbay Harbor