I'M writing to you out of concern over statements that continue to be made by the leaders of the so called fuel campaign.

They may believe their assertions that they allowed essential supplies to reach the emergency services during the previous wildcat action in September, but it is just not true. And it is important for the public to recognise this.

With due respect to the farmers and hauliers on the picket lines, they were not qualified to understand the needs of the NHS.

Allowing supplies of diesel to reach the emergency ambulance services was not supplying fuel to essential NHS users. It must be borne in mind that almost one million people work in the NHS and to an extent, because they are all dependent on each other as members of teams, they are all essential workers.

Even looking at this question more narrowly, few family doctors, district nurses or health visitors have cars that run on diesel fuel. They just couldn't sustain a full quota of home visits.

Meals on Wheels and other vital services provided by the voluntary sector and local authorities faced major disruption.

Taxi drivers who move blood supplies between hospitals couldn't access petrol.

The firm that removes environmental waste from hospitals throughout Greater Manchester reluctantly had to withdraw its services.

NHS staff couldn't get into to work. Operations were cancelled and patients couldn't attend outpatient clinics.

The consequences were devastating and I strongly believe that had the action continued for a longer period, the protesters would have had blood on their hands. This must not be allowed to happen again.

As we head into winter with the 'flu season imminent and other infectious diseases taking their toll of frail elderly people, the task of ensuring that everyone receives the care they need will become more acute. I think it is important that these people who are behaving in this reckless way should be held responsible for the consequences of their actions.

Professor Dr John R Ashton CBE, Regional Director of Public Health/Regional Medical Officer.