I WOULD like to congratulate The Press for its efforts relating to hospital operations being suspended for non-essential surgery, but fear it will fall on deaf ears.

I am among those denied surgery that I require as it is no longer funded by the NHS.

The only alternative is to have it done privately at a cost of approximately £2,500.

This is despite the fact that the surgeon says I should have it done a) to relieve considerable discomfort, b) to prevent more serious complications developing in the future.

I have worked all my life until retiring and paid a large amount of money over the years towards the cost of medical treatment and find it a little hard to swallow that I now find I am denied treatment when others who have paid nothing get it for free.

We are continually having the words "human rights" pushed down our throats. What about mine?

Over the last few years we have been fed a lot of spin by Tony Blair about the reasons for going to war on Iraq.

Saddam Hussein's record on human rights was one. I know it is wrong to torture and kill your enemies, but really, is Blair any better?

Obviously, senior citizens are his enemies, but he deals with them in a more subtle way. Firstly, he denies medical facilities to many, care that would relieve suffering and give a much better quality of life.

Secondly, his henchman Gordon Brown has continually plundered as much money as he can from us to finance the Government's total incompetence.

These alone sentences many elderly citizens to final years of pain, suffering and hardship. I for one have certainly felt the crunch as taxes and other necessities rise out of all proportion.

John Miller, Hunters Close, Dunnington, York.


A FEW days ago you kindly published my letter on the subject of the "proposed" closure of ward 38 at YDH (I'm so dismayed by ward closure, Readers' Letters, April 4).

This appeared in the same issue in which you ran a full report of the issue.

It seems to have prompted a lot of people to stir themselves over what would be a disaster to many patients and, of course, to the staff involved.

Silence prevails from one group, the MPs representing the Greater York area. One gentleman in particular manages a press report almost every day, usually with photo, on any subject so long as his name is prominent. So far, silence.

We could do with some support from our representatives, or is it politically sensitive?

What is this whole affair doing to the morale of those highly skilled people who care for the multitude of needs of the neurologically afflicted?

This whole department works well and does a wonderful job with some dreadful cases. They deserve better.

Time for a total rethink on this issue and remember, if it's not broke, don't fix it!

Charles Rushton, Pasture Close, Strensall, York.