Letters - January 26, 2016

I am afraid Mr Wiseman has somewhat missed the point. He says it is irresponsible of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and the local Clinical Commissioning Group leaders to “call on people suffering from coughs, flu and minor ailments to stay away from A&E”.

In fact, it is irresponsible of those people who attend A&E with such symptoms, as they will not be treated at A&E. Yes, they will be seen by somebody, but that person will inform them they would have been better off either visiting a pharmacy or even just drinking plenty of fluids and getting rest at home.

It is well documented that A&E is experiencing record levels of patient activity and it is paramount, now more than ever, that patients whose symptoms are not the result of an accident or representing an emergency seek the appropriate alternative service.

Mr Wiseman refers to the story of sportsman Sam Owen and claims that according to our message we would encourage him to rest at home following his injury sustained in a hockey match.

Mr Owen had suffered a head injury. This is exactly the sort of incident where attendance at A&E was entirely appropriate.

Dr Tony Naughton

Clinical chief officer, NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group

HEALTH

Questions to ask on flouridated milk

I understand that some officials want to give fluoridated school milk to Blackpool children.

We need to ask what type of fluoride would be added to the milk. Is it pharmaceutical grade sodium fluoride, or is it fluorosilicic acid, which is a toxic waste from phosphate fertilizer factories, which is added to tap water in fluoridated areas? The latter is more toxic than lead and only slightly less so than arsenic.

As fluorosilicic acid is an industrial waste, it is contaminated with arsenic, mercury and lead. I think that the informed consent of each parent should be needed before fluoridated milk can be given to their child. After all, these days teachers are not normally allowed to give any medication to children.

I think that normal non-fluoridated milk should be made available as an alternative. We also need to know what quantity of added fluoride the milk will contain. The USA is lowering the amount of fluoride added to water from one part per million to 0.7 ppm. Too much fluoride can cause permanent mottling and staining of children’s teeth – known as dental fluorosis.

The American Dental Association has said that babies’ milk feeds should not be made up with fluoridated water as they could receive too much fluoride – which may be why they’re lowering the amount in US tap water!

A Wills

via email

HEALTH

Children should be told to brush teeth

Brian Coope’s article in the Gazette about flouridated milk (Politically Correct, Gazette, January 20) rang a bell in my memory.

Here is the email I sent to Blackpool Borough Council back in 2013. No one replied, of course.

‘After getting a free breakfast courtesy of the ratepayers, do the schoolchildren of Blackpool get to clean their teeth? Actually, if the need for food is down to neglectful parents, I can’t see those self-same parents bothering too much about their kids having toothpaste at home. Brush at least twice a day we’re told.

‘So, instead of subjecting all the population to the effects of fluoride, why not cut a deal with a fluoride toothpaste manufacturer and make sure the children get clean teeth at least once a day, after a meal?’

Keith Hallam

via email

ANIMALS

Your stamps can help save horses

Established in 1968, Bransby Horses is one of the UKs largest equine welfare charities dedicated to improving the lives of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

They have rescued and rehabilitated, re-homed or retired literally hundreds of animals, and are working harder than ever to continue making a positive difference to equines.

They rely solely on the generosity of the general public to carry out their vital work, and one of the ways they generate funds is from the sale of used postage stamps.

Would you help them by saving your used postage stamps? Whether they are standard first and second class, special editions or foreign stamps. Bransby can use them to generate money. Just pop them in an envelope and send to Bransby Horses, Bransby, Lincoln, LN1 2PH.

You can check out this hard working charity by visiting their website at www.bransbyhorses.co.uk

Josephine Harwood

Moor Park Avenue

Bispham

ENVIRONMENT

We need to rethink greenbelt building

It seems there are many homes being built on greenbelt, which should be protected from development.

As it is we have to build homes for a population that is out of control.

The current path we are taking is not sustainable, unfortunately trees do not drop leaves made out of money, nor do meadows give off free WiFi signals, if they did, the world would be a greener place and far happier for it.

LS

Address supplied