Patient power can make a difference

I HAVE become aware that liver and pancreas surgery at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) is being threatened with closure, unless it allows University Hospital Birmingham (UHB) to take it over. This would result in all the treatments and operations being relocated to Birmingham.

The key issue here is that the centres which treat these conditions are required to have a minimum catchment area of two million people. I understand that UHCW have recently signed an agreement with Worcester/ Redditch and Hereford to enable them to reach the two million population requirement. Inevitably this will take time to come to fruition and it would appear that UHB will attempt to take advantage of this window to push through this takeover.

Following a car accident five years ago which identified a tumour, I have benefited from the excellent care and treatment given by UHCW and I am still being monitored to this day by the team there.

The facts in favour of retaining this valuable service are considerable. This team is the only one in the Midlands and only the second in the UK to offer robotic liver and pancreas surgery. In addition, the affiliated Neuroendocrine team was awarded the European Centre of Excellence status, becoming one of only 42 centres in Europe. Birmingham does not have the capacity to support the potential loss of this team, so I fear this will result in longer waiting lists and increased travel time. It is also important to note that this is not a money saving exercise as UCHW is self funded.

As a patient I believe that it is imperative that I bring this situation to the attention of as many people as possible, in the hope that the powers that be will recognise that any decision to relocate this area of expertise would be a grave mistake. I live in Leicestershire and have witnessed the wonderful campaign to save the children’s heart unit at Glenfield Hospital, so patient power can make a difference. Mick Noble Leicester

Delighted by award honour for centre

IT was a real delight to join Councillors Ken Taylor, Allan Andrews and Gary Ridley when the Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service on October 24.

The ceremony took place at St Mary’s Guildhall and was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Coventry.

Many of their volunteers and trustees attended the evening to celebrate their hard work and dedication to Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind.

It is great to see more recognition given to those that volunteer to help our residents. They were delighted to be awarded the highest honour a charity can receive for outstanding work in the community.

Trustee/Managers Rosie Brady and Patricia Griffiths were invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace. I’m sure a terrific experience.

If you are interested in finding out more about the work they do or would want to volunteer you can call 024 7671 7522 for further details.

Volunteers at the Resource Centre have always found it to be a rewarding experience, with lots to do and a very friendly atmosphere. Councillor Tim Mayer (Con) Westwood ward

Memories of trip to Telegraph presses

IN 1984 I went to Stoke Secondary Modern School. Our teacher, Mr Mortimer, took us on a field trip to the Coventry Evening Telegraph in Quinton Road at the time.

The class was initially taken into a room with a large camera. The pictures the camera took were made up of lots of small dots to put on the paper. We were then taken to a room with the Telegraph’s teleprinters. A man who looked like Sandy Powell said he was printing the Radio Times.

The typist on the printer, when typed, produced a lead strip with letters on. These were put together and embossed on to a pink cardboard sheet. The large card was then taken to the furnace and stamped onto very large lead rollers. Then they were taken and put on the printing press.

A large klaxon horn was sounded right before the press started up, just to make sure that no one was in the press.

A boy said: “Look at the printing set!” and the foreman said: “Go and ask him if he’s John Bull.” Arthur Biggs Lower Stoke