I HAVE great respect for the good work done by York Hospital and its hardworking staff, and have reason to be grateful for their excellent care.

But I can no longer ignore the disservice that the present blood-taking unit offers its patients.

I am a regular visitor to the department and find the staff working there under very difficult, crowded circumstances are always friendly and courteous.

However, the waiting area is totally inadequate. There is no ventilation, insufficient seating and a total lack of standing room.

The adjoining corridors are filled with those unfortunate enough not to find a seat. The resulting mayhem could cause serious problems if there was a sudden emergency with staff hindered in their passage through, or perish the thought of a fire alarm going off.

Many people having to stand are pregnant, elderly using sticks, or some in wheelchairs that further block the corridors.

The situation was accelerated when the anticoagulant clinic was moved to join the blood-taking department. Despite many users placing objections in the complaints box, nothing was done.

R Davis, Aldwark, York.