To the editor:

The issue concerning the lack of a mental health unit at Lawrence Memorial Hospital is something I felt should be addressed by someone whose family was there when LMH had a mental health unit. The problem, in my opinion, became apparent and compounded itself later in the lack of psychiatric-trained doctors available to the hospital to provide patient treatment and leadership to what was an excellent staff.

Regardless of an excellent staff, adequate facilities and a great president and CEO, Gene Meyer, LMH cannot give the treatment you and I expect until the doctor shortage in the psychiatric area is solved. LMH is a great hospital. After five major surgical operations — one each in Kansas City, Dallas and Loma Linda, Calif., and two at LMH — I found our hospital is on par and oftentimes better than elsewhere. We are blessed, and I look forward to a super mental health unit when we have the doctors available.

C.O. Nauman,

Lawrence