Letters: Miracle my 'little infection' did not start an outbreak

THE report that a killer bug has struck in Edinburgh's Liberton Hospital is disturbing but unfortunately not surprising (News, 6 February).

Just over a year ago I was diagnosed with bowel cancer and was admitted to the Western General for a surgical operation. The operation went well but the aftercare could well have been an absolute disaster.

Instead of being in for the estimated seven to ten days my visit lasted six weeks – the bulk of it in isolation – as I had caught what I was told at the time was "a wee infection". It was only when I received my discharge certificate that I noted I had been suffering from the superbug Clostridium difficile, or C diff as it is known.

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During all the time in my single ward with my "wee infection" I had been greeting visitors who, like me, were completely unaware of the seriousness of my infection. Throughout this period I was shaking hands with and embracing my visitors on a daily basis, and also had my dirty washing taken away, all without any sort of precaution being taken. How there was not at least a minor outbreak of C diff following this incident is perhaps one of the new miracles of medical science.

I would suggest that cutting the number of potential patients rather than increasing them may be part of the answer.

David McBain, Baberton Mains Row, Edinburgh.

It's time to take a stand for schools

I WRITE regarding Michael Blackley's article "City Schools Are Saved" (News, 5 February).

Two schools may well have been saved from closure, however there is no denying that schools will continue to suffer from the scaled back 1 per cent budget cut that will erode staffing budgets, school maintenance budgets, and ultimately the successful implementation of the Government's Curriculum for Excellence.

As a parent of two young school children, I want to hear of investment, not budget cuts.

Why are we even entertaining this proposal? Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.

We parents will not be deflected from our course to stand up to the council proposals to starve the city's educational establishments of their funding.

Our future generation will support us only if we support them now! I would urge supporters who are against the council's education cuts to attend the rally today at 4.15pm at the City Chambers.

Nick O'Neill, Bruntsfield, Edinburgh

Politicians are serving us well

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AT A time when politicians are held in uniquely low regard it is good that Portobello is being so well served. The community are campaigning to try to stop a waste transfer site that will cause irreversible damage to the beauty of Portobello and to the lives of many of the residents.

The public local inquiry starts this week and we have received excellent support from Gavin Strang, our MP, Kenny MacAskill MSP, and all three councillors, Stephen Hawkins, Maureen Child and Mike Bridgman in our campaign.

This bodes well for the inquiry, and reflects the broad opposition throughout the community to the proposed waste transfer site.

Peter McColl, Bath Street, Portobello.

Were the phone box two engaged?

THE article "Phone box couple put on sex register" (News 6 February) greatly concerns me. I am almost certain the sex offenders' register was not designed to be used in this manner.

A public phone box is not the best place to do what comes naturally, but surely if the couple did have to be charged with something then breach of the peace would have been more appropriate.

It is now possible that by appearing on the sex offenders' register that this couple could face difficulties in gaining future employment, obtaining insurance and could even become the victims of vigilantes.

How can employers or the public take the sex offenders' register seriously if this is the kind of thing people are placed on it for?

If anyone has to be added to the sex offenders' register then I would rather it is kept for people found guilty of true sexual crimes such as paedophiles, rapists and stalkers and not those who show a bit of passion in a call box.

Mr Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth

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