Readers' letters

My mother recently spent two weeks in the RLI, having received a terminal diagnosis.

I slept on the floor by her bed for a fortnight until I could arrange a discharge as her ward was woefully understaffed and unable to meet the needs of the patients, especially at night.

There were several patients with dementia, admitted for surgery, with no idea where they were, or why they were in pain, calling for help, day and night. The RLI is not equipped or staffed for patients with dementia.

For patients like my mother needing acute pain relief, two staff must sign it out, and it is hard enough to get one.

At mealtimes it is impossible, as all staff are needed to feed patients who would otherwise go without food. She should not have been admitted, but once there you have no control – and cannot find anyone who does.

The RLI is not staffed to provide terminal care.

The staff seem superhuman.

I do not know how they bear the immense weight of responsibility that is, literally, impossible for them to fulfil, it is too great and they are too few.

The suffering of unmet need is constant and harrowing.

But they cannot take action or protest, because this Government hides behind a human shield of vulnerable patients, holding them hostage to staff compliance, even as it cuts away the resources needed for care.

The Government has claimed it will increase NHS spending by £10bn over the next five years, but the Conservative MP, chairing their own cross-party Health Select Committee (HSC), has complained strongly this week to the Chancellor that their figures are inaccurate and the real increase budgeted for health services is no more than £4.5bn.

She has also pointed out that over £3bn in cuts to health and social care budgets outside the NHS mean that more patients, and particularly increasing numbers of elderly, are being admitted to hospital when they should not be there, resulting in a crisis in A&E Departments.

Once admitted they drain resources – whilst still not being properly cared for – because there are no staff to arrange discharge nor facilities in the community to receive them, as I can testify. If you are that patient, it is a very hard situation to endure.

The Government’s HSC report points out that health authorities are having to plunder their capital funds, intended for updating equipment, buildings and services, to meet routine expenses, resulting in a general running down of the NHS as a whole.

The HSC requested that the Government respond to the crisis in social care provision.

They argue, and I wholeheartedly agree, that the swingeing cuts to these services have led to intolerable and inefficient stresses on NHS resources already struggling to meet a range of other increased demands.

The Government has responded by flat denial, stating its plans are adequate.

But you could only believe these plans were adequate if you believed that the people depending on them did not feel pain or loss as you do.

This Conservative Government of millionaires does not care what we feel or how we cope, or about what is real or true.

It just says what suits it and does as it likes.

Christine Simpson, Lancaster

Why is Donald Trump popular?

In Britain, we wonder how on earth Donald Trump can still be in the running for the US Presidency.

Yet the populism which has driven his campaign is part of the same anti-establishment force which saw a victory for Leave in our EU referendum.

And Hillary Clinton hasn’t helped with her words against the coal industry which remains a source of employment for many blue collar workers.

Tim Mickleburgh, address supplied

Oil spillage is spoiling work

I find it unbelievable that, after Preston Council took such a long time to make a beautiful job of the new stretch of walkway/road along Church Street, it has now been ruined by all the black cabs that park on the footpath.

I have never seen so much oil stain spillage. It looks ten times worse than chewing gum as it stands out, especially the mucky diesel drops that will permanently leave stains. Who will pay for the sand blasting it takes to remove this half mile of mess?

Surely the taxi drivers should chip in to clear up the absolute destruction they have made of the road, especially after the council and workmen took such pride in completing it?

Very annoyed.

Mr D Hornby, Preston

Thanks for all your support

On Saturday, October 15, Lancaster city centre was once again vibrant with shoppers and music festival-goers enjoying all the city had to offer in good weather after a damp start. Can I thank everyone who helped Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team by giving to our street collection. The day made a tremendous £548, which will help us to maintain our Search and Rescue response.

The previous 12 months have been as busy as ever, particularly with flooding rescues on the Lune, Ribble, Wyre and Lostock rivers as well as assisting in Kendal, Cockermouth and York. Thanks to all who visited, donated and patted the dogs, and who made the city centre so vibrant.

Clive Shelley, Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team

Scratched legs and parked cars

Recent letters in the Evening Post about pavement parking reminded me about all the complaints in the Plungington area.

Can anything be done about the increase of cars parking on double yellow lines, resulting in people having to walk in the road to pass with prams or disabled transport? One trader uses the footpath on both sides of the road to sell cars on!

On Brook Street, there’s

no double yellow lines, but still cars are obstructing the pavement.

A female friend of mine scratched her legs on overgrown bushes whilst trying to squeeze past the cars and the bushes, yet no one seems to care.

J.L, Barton