THE ever-extending tentacles of political correctness reach new extremes of absurdity in East Lancashire today as, now, calling someone 'cock' falls foul of the crazy p.c. code.

For hospital bosses have been forced into an act of contrition after a patient protested at being on the receiving end of this familiar form of address.

The apology to Oswaldtwistle grandmother Christine Wilkin-Wyke comes after senior hospital trust staff investigated her complaint about a ward sister at Blackburn Infirmary calling her 'cock.'

It is preposterous that busy health care managers have to be diverted from more serious matters in order to salve someone's sensitivity. Yet this is not the first time that NHS chiefs in East Lancashire have had to prescribe proscription for familiarity.

Remember the farce only eight months ago when ambulance crews were warned about how they addressed patients after one complained about being called 'mate' - and the service launching consultation into whether words like 'pal,' 'love' and 'duck' also caused offence?

For goodness sake, this is Lancashire, the place where folk are sociable and outgoing and use such expressions all the time, both with friends and strangers. Where's the harm in that?

Indeed, it is understandable why health care staff dealing with anxious patients should employ friendly forms of address in order to put them at ease.

And if no offence is meant, none should be taken. Come on, cock, let's have a bit of common sense.