AS a patient at Blackburn Infirmary over a long period of time, I found your report on the suspension of the WRVS tea trolley (LET, July 16) very disturbing.

I visit two clinics every few weeks and always look forward to a 'cuppa' etc from the trolley and I know how greatly this will be missed.

The WRVS officials and Health and Safety officials say it's potentially dangerous. Rubbish!

There is far more dangerous equipment being used than the trolley. The hot drinks machines are just as dangerous in my opinion and I think this suspension is just the thin edge of the wedge to close a very valuable service. Also, the sweet trolley on the wards is very disturbing.

I, like many other patients, looked forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays when the ladies came with the trolley so we could buy what we wanted and also have a few words with the ladies, who were always kind and courteous and had a smile for you. It certainly brightened up the afternoon. The service wasn't run to be a satisfactory service for the volunteers - it was run for the patients. I know this closure has lost the service four good ladies - one after 17 years on the trolley.

The money made from the sales was always ploughed back to some part of the hospital. A few weeks ago, £500 was given for a new bed in the physiotherapy department.

There, trolleys have been in service since 1971-2 and they should not be ended or suspended.

Have those responsible thought about how far patients at 1A and 2 Out-patients' Clinics have to walk to get a hot drink then carry it back to the clinic? Is that not dangerous?

W GREGORY (Mrs), Roe Lee Park, Blackburn.

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