Dear editor,

Frequently, people write to our local newspapers to express their thanks to the Taunton & Somerset Hospital (Musgrove Park Hospital), for their care: whilst GP surgeries trumpet their ‘Gold Awards’ to all who venture near a reception Desk. But all is not good news.

Currently, we are trying to support a widower who is seriously ill with multiple pathologies: many of them, strangely, of the autoimmune variety, and affecting major organs, such as the skin and liver. Because of the gravity of the illness, it is proposed to treat the gentleman with Mycophenylate Mofetil (MMF) immunosuppressant therapy. Following a recent discharge from MPH, the usual ‘follow-up’ letter was sent to the GP Surgery, with a copy for the patient. However, the blood-sampling forms were sent to the patient; along with the instructions as to when blood samples should be taken. Surely, this ‘active’ timetable for blood sampling should be the concern of the local GP Surgery: not the patient? 

In this instance, the gentleman is currently unable to walk to the GP surgery: so, this complicates matters further. Fortunately, the gentleman has some very loving, geographically-distant, relatives, who have had to make copious phone calls to get our local GP Surgery to buck up its ideas about the ‘care’ it should be providing for someone so poorly, and alone.

Following the covid nonsense, there does seem to have been a change in the NHS as experienced at the grass-roots, first-contact level. It is as though ‘healthcare-by-letter’, or email, or phone-call, have become the norm: with relatively little opportunity for a patient to ask questions, face-to-face, about the ‘risks’ and ‘benefits’ of, for example, MMF immunosuppressant therapy. This is not a task for a generalist Nurse or Physiotherapist. It requires someone with medical knowledge.

Sincere regards

Mark Dyer,

Wiveliscombe

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Dear editor,

What good news that the Wellington Town Community Award for Business was given to Toby Brimacombe of Odette's Tearoom in the High Street. In addition to all the kindnesses, events and sessions which Toby organises and to which you referred in your article in last week's Wellington Weekly News, I am happy to report that Toby welcomes us, a group of Reminiscence Learning Carers, into Odette's fortnightly where we have a most enjoyable informal meeting.

Life as a carer of a loved-one with dementia can be very stressful and we are happy to meet together and exchange ideas and learn from one another. A trouble shared is a trouble halved and we are happy to share our troubles in Odette's, while we enjoy Toby's delicacies.

Well done, Toby!

Maralyn Norman,

Wellington

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Dear editor,

I was left absolutely flabbergasted when I read that a new toilet block in Longforth Road, Wellington, could cost around £250,000.

Does this mean that the toilet seats are going to be embedded with sparkling jewels and will the loo paper be made out of gold leaf?

Will there be staff on the door to give you a welcome drink as you enter the building and somebody to take your coat and place it in a cloakroom?

And will there be an abundant array of sweet-smelling soaps, toiletries and fine fragrances available after using the facilities?

Wellington Town Council has taken a very brave, but ultimately welcome decision, in my opinion, of taking on extra services from Somerset Council which is on the brink of bankruptcy.

But surely, at this point in time, spending a staggering quarter of a millions pounds on a toilet block is, perhaps, not the most sensible thing to do.

Why not let the dust settle on the devolution of services from Somerset Council first and look at the finances and then, perhaps, if funding allows, look at the Longforth Road toilet block further down the line?

There have not been any toilets in Longforth Road now for well over 18 months and I haven’t heard too many, if any, people moan about them not being there.

Admittedly, in an ideal world it would be great to have public toilets again in that area; but are they really needed at a time when every “spending a penny” really does count? I don’t think so.

Name and address supplied,

Wellington,

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Dear editor.

IT is great to read that the refurbished Wellington Library in Fore Street is to reopen on Monday, September 30.

I can’t wait to visit the library back at its old home following a number of months being based at the Northfield Centre in North Street.

I noticed that Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, of Somerset Council, said that the new upgraded premises housing the library and health and well-being services will create a “wonderful hub for the local community and visitors alike.”

It is now down to the local community to make sure we use these new and improved facilities – especially as the revamp has cost in the region of a staggering £900,000.

It would be a huge shame if the local community did not make use of this building even more so considering that nearly £1million has been spent on it.

Let’s make the new Wellington Library a real hub and focal point of our town centre and be used by everyone.

Libraries are so important – they are a vital part of any community.

Barry Hughes,

Wellington