NOW that the problem of the Matron at the Bolton Hospice has been resolved by the Hospice Council of Management, it is to be hoped that an apology to the chairman will be made by the BEN.

Your recent front pages constituted harassment of the highest order and were a disgrace. They were unfair both to the Council of Management and to the former Matron (Pat Sneddon).

It is appreciated that your actions were an ego trip for the BEN. When some difficulty arises and the appropriate responsible body is dealing with the matter, why cannot you leave the matter to them until it is resolved before reporting. Under the spurious excuse of the public's right to know, what right have you to intervene and harass the appropriate body.

The straw poll you conducted also illustrates what a farce such polls are. When asked: "Would you be more or less willing to give money to the hospice following the suspension of its matron?" Would anyone answer: "More willing." No doubt an awkward old cuss like me who, having ascertained who was asking and told you to "Get stuffed", would be classed as a "don't know" and not counted.

Your reporting of this whole incident is a disgrace. It has been most unhelpful to the hospice, whom you claim to support, and an appropriate apology is surely justified.

B W Tyas Cooper

Breckland Drive

Heaton

Editor's note: No ego trip for the BEN, just a concern that the people of Bolton, who fund this organisation through generous donations, are told the truth when their cash is spent on legal matters relating to events kept hidden at the hospice rather than the intended purpose of patient care.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.