It was lovely to see the pictures in the Wharfedale Observer (January 7) of the children sledging and I couldn’t help but think of our car park here at Wharfedale Hospital which at times in the last few days has been like a skating rink despite the building maintenance crews’ best efforts to salt and grit the road and paths regularly. At one point a JCB digger had to be brought in to move the excess snow from the car park to prevent cars from getting trapped. Today, all of the car park is safe and accessible so I must pay compliments to the team for their excellent work.

Adversity does bring out the best in people and the Wharfedale Hospital staff have been exceptional with almost no absences, meaning that we have not been required to cancel appointments (out-patients and operations) due to lack of nursing staff. In some cases members of the team have walked to and from the hospital each day, even as far as six miles each way, and some of the team even brought their overnight bags with them just in case. I really am very grateful to them all.

Only a few patients were cancelled as a result of the bad weather conditions; some due to ambulance services being unable to bring non-urgent patients for their appointments; two clinics were cancelled due to staff being unable to make it in to the hospital and some patients themselves cancelled their appointments due to the adverse weather. Otherwise, it was pretty much business as usual.

A few surgical cases (operations) were cancelled because key team members were stranded by the weather and a few other patients cancelled themselves, not feeling brave enough to face the journey in.

As you would expect, the minor injuries unit has been busy with some really nasty breaks and sprains as a result of falls. Fortunately, we have a very experienced team here led by Sister Loker so the patients couldn’t be in better hands.

It is hard to single out specific staff groups as all teams have done a tremendous job at keeping their services running as close to normal as possible, however, I must congratulate the housekeeping staff for keeping the hospital clean and the corridors free of puddles from everyone’s wet snowy feet. It has been a full-time job for some individuals and I am very grateful to them for continuing to work hard to achieve the cleanliness standard that we have all come to expect of our hospital.

Finally I must tell you about a most generous member of the public who offered to provide bed and breakfast accommodation free of charge to any member of my staff unable to get home. I think you will agree that this is a wonderful gesture and it has touched the hearts of all of the team here.

I recognise winter is not over yet and we may face further difficulties due to poor weather but you can be assured that our staff will do their very best to keep the services running as normal.

Best wishes from all at Wharfedale Hospital for 2010.

Z Kirk

Matron, Wharfedale Hospital

Patience has run out with snowball throwers

As a resident of the St Richards, St Davids and St Martins estate, Otley, I have been plagued in recent evenings by snowball attacks on my property by groups of children aged possibly 12 years upwards, both boys and girls, generally well dressed, indicating they come from ‘good’ homes.

This is intimidating and a potential risk to my windows, etc.

Appeals to the offenders to behave more responsibly are met by mild abuse and more snowballs.

Along with other local householders, my patience has finally ceased and I have informed the police, who are now seeking to identify and deal with the anti-social offenders and also let the parents know.

Should readers have a son or daughter who is out in the streets in the evenings, could they please caution and advise them not be be involved in such behaviour or to accept that they will finally be identified and dealt with, with the shame that will bring to their family and school.

Name and address supplied

Editor's note: Police said this week they had stepped up patrols in the area after a number of complaints.

Charity shops badly hit by weather crisis

I am asking your readers to urgently visit their local Age Concern and Help the Aged charity shops and give generously to stop them losing crucial funds because of the recent cold snap.

The charity relies on generous donations from the public to stock their shops and fund their vital work, but due to bad weather charity collection vans have been unable to pick up donations. In addition shops have had to shut and the ones that do open have seen much reduced business and a decrease in people bringing in goods.

Age Concern and Help the Aged estimates that over the last two weeks the charity has lost around £500,000 and with the weather worsening across much of the country that number could get far higher.

The money raised from selling donations is used to improve the lives of older people in many ways, from running lunch clubs and offering benefits advice to lobbying Government. Donations to your local shop as soon as possible will help the charity continue its fantastic work – good quality clothing, accessories, books and CDs will be warmly welcomed.

Fiona Phillips

Journalist and Age Concern and Help the Aged ambassador

MEP calls for referendum on Britain’s bankers

I feel some sympathy for the citizens of Iceland. They are being asked to pick up the tab for failed bankers, regulators and greedy investors who thought higher interest rates did not involve greater risk.

I wish we had had a referendum on the bail-out of our equally stupid bankers, regulators and politicians all of whom seem to be carrying on as normal.

I would have voted no and I hope they do.

Godfrey Bloom

UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire

Social services department needs political clean sweep

News is emerging that following the debacle at Leeds social services department and poor rating from the Care Quality Commission; a reshuffle of senior positions is planned. The adult care services director, Sandie Keene, is being temporarily transferred to childcare until a new director is appointed and her place taken by an underling. If this continues for any length of time it is a recipe for disaster.

It seems that Leeds Council is incapable of learning from past mistakes. It was a reshuffle that resulted in failure of the service in the first place.

One can but hope that a competent director can be found quickly as Sandie Keene has, at best, an “average” record for adult services which hardly qualifies her to be in charge of childcare. And yet this ridiculous bureaucratic reshuffle was approved in desperation by our all-knowing council.

Leeds Council’s social services record has been appalling under the present and previous administrations and no one seems to care. Least of all the Leeds Council executive. And the councillors who nod through these changes are no better.

When will Councillor Harrand have the guts to answer the many questions put to him and confirm that the incumbent failed childcare director has been given an early retirement six-figure pay-off?

Leeds Council executive responsible for this state of affairs should be sacked immediately as “not fit for purpose”. What is needed is a political and bureaucratic clean sweep, not cosmetic reshuffles that spread the infestation even further.

Malcolm Naylor

Grange View, Otley

Great way to stretch your legs and help hospice

Forget grey skies and slush and think of daffodils and spring just around the corner by signing up for the Daffodil Walk to raise funds for the Bradford Marie Curie Hospice.

The Walk on Sunday, March 7, is a six-mile sponsored walk around Myrtle Park, past the charity’s Field of Hope and around the St Ives Estate, Bingley.

The walk starts and finishes at The Midland Hotel, Bingley and all walkers are asked to raise as much sponsorship as possible.

This is a lovely walk, perfect for stretching the legs on a Sunday morning. It’s a great way for people to get involved, have a good time and through sponsorship help us maintain our very special services provided at the Hospice for our patients and their families.

For an entry form or more information call me on 01274337035 or email me.

Brenda Doyle

Community Fundraising Manager, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Maudsley Street, Bradford