YOU reported the excellent news that delays in hospital discharges in York had beaten Government targets (April 3).

The number of elderly people waiting to be discharged from York Hospital to care and support provided by City of York Council fell to 18.

How regrettable then that in his election statement (April 8), and in his Liberal Democrat leaflets, Coun Steve Galloway claims 30 elderly people remain in hospital beds.

This is a blatant attempt to mislead people by misreporting the facts.

In his leaflets Coun Galloway also blames council staff for failing to make proper provision for our elderly people.

This is simply not true.

The reduction in numbers is testimony to the commitment and hard work by council staff at every level.

I thank them for their unstinting efforts.

Coun Viv Kind,

Executive member for social services and health,

Sefton Avenue, York.

Updated: 09:46 Saturday, April 12, 2003