The front page article on surgery for excess sweating of the hands (Evening Press, November 21) is slightly misleading. The keyhole procedure described is not new, indeed it has been performed in York since 1985.

We have two vascular surgeons who are very skilled in this technique, so that people in the York and Selby area do not need to travel to Leeds for this type of operation. This is done under general anaesthetic and only requires an overnight stay.

S H Leveson,

Consultant Surgeon & Clinical Director,

York District Hospital.

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