I WENT to the Royal Blackburn Hospital and had to wait 20 minutes before anyone noticed I was there.

I used my time to look around and noticed that someone had put up a hand cleaning gel dispenser by the entrance to the department with a sign telling staff, patients and visitors to clean their hands as they entered and left.

I watched people, mostly staff, streaming in and out and nobody used the dispenser.

I have no idea whether or not it is sensible for people to clean their hands on entering and leaving that particular department though evidently the staff do not think it is.

However, it is clear that a manager who spends our money putting up the sign and dispenser and then cannot persuade his or her staff to do as he says, is not worth a salary and should be fired.

MARTIN GELDASH, Dickens Court, Brockhall Village.