SIR – I have recently spent from October 26 until November 3 at the Worcestershire Hospital whereupon I had as the doctors told me a life threatening illness and was very poorly.
Upton being admitted on that day until departure I was given the most excellent care by everyone. Doctors, nurses, carers, even the cleaners and porters who work, they came to see how I was. Also Sharon Mills and Lynne came too.
I would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone as without the care from the doctors and nurses it may have been totally different! Also wards Beech and Chestnut – how t hose nurses/sisters worked tirelessly nothing too much trouble for myself. Even the foot I ate was lovely – varied, different choices every day.
I send my thanks and appreciation to you all. Don’t slate this hospital they have their work cut out and still carry on regardless, under pressure.
Last but not least, thank you to family and close friends for their help and concern, but especially my partner – the man in my life John Bullock – without him by my side, I wouldn’t have pulled through. Thank you dear you meant so much.
I am still not back to work yet but hope to be soon when I am stronger. Also thank you so much to the staff and doctors when I visited the optometrist at Worcester & Kidderminster. Also the driver who took me to the optometrist.
ANN-MARIE BULLOCK
Worcester

Population density is the problem in UK
SIR – In his letter (Worcester News, November 16), Mr. Nielson suggests that if a “small” country like Sweden with a population of 9.6 million people has taken 190,000 refugees, a “large” country like the UK with 63 million people should take more than 20,000 over the next five years. He fails to mention that the 9.6 million Swedes live in a country with a land area nearly TWICE the size of the UK, where we 63 million British citizens have to reside.
Population density is the problem and the UK is already FULL! Even worse, recent population statistics predict that the UK will be the most densely populated country in Europe in the near future.
My Swedish friends tell me that there is growing discontent with Swedish Government policy on immigration – just like the UK. I am sure that Mr. Nielsen is aware of this – despite his protestations!
We do not want our fields concreted over and we do not want our trees relegated to museums! We must control our borders, control our population, and leave the EU!
MARTYN WHEELER
St Peter’s, Worcester

Park and ride facilities are publicly available
SIR – Regarding the ongoing discussion about parking at WRH, it does not seem widely known that the Park & Ride facility from Sixways is available to the general public and not just NHS staff. I have had to visit the hospital several times in the past year & have always used this service- the W3-without any problems. It’s reliable, every 30 mins-more a peak times- and is also free if you have a bus pass. Parking is easy and the bus drops at A & E, the children’s entrance and the main entrance. You may have to allow extra time to get to Sixways and wait for a bus – but there is absolutely no hassle.
ANDREW WILDMAN
Worcester

Generosity is being seen as a weakness
SIR – I’m horrified at what unfolded in Paris last week. Innocents murdered while eating, drinking and dancing, rocket launchers seized in subsequent raids.
 Doubly horrifying are the stories from security services. The French claim several of the identified perpetrators had recently travelled back from a ‘visit’ to Syria. The Greeks believe they rescued one from a boat in the Mediterranean last month, posing as a refugee.
 I remember the statements by ISIS in the summer: That it would use the migrant crisis to flood Europe with their ideology and militants. In today’s papers (16.11), ISIS claims it’s brought 4,000 militants to Europe already. I remember those who urged caution in the wake of the migrant crisis, highlighting Turkey’s porous borders and the lunacy of allowing those who fought in Syria to return ‘home’. Those speakers were labelled scaremongers. 
 Well, I am scared. Our Western tolerance and Christian generosity are seen as weaknesses by those who would do us harm. European colonial guilt has blinded us to dangers that were once obvious. 
 The French have suffered several attacks this year. Here, we’ve foiled seven plots since June; last week much of Gatwick was evacuated. Sinai, Tunisia, Woolwich... Don’t forget the thousands of Christians and moderate Muslims butchered daily across Asia and Africa. 
 The French have now closed borders the EU claims are invisible. There is even talk of the French proposing a suspension of the Schengen free movement zone. Thank God for the English Channel. 
 OWEN CLEARY
Worcester

Chickens trapped but were they rescued?
SIR – I was very concerned to read of the overturned chicken lorry (Worcester News, November 11), particularly the tweet from the fire service - ‘no one trapped’ with no mention of the 3,000 chickens. How did they fare? They were definitely trapped but were they then rescued? I dare say they were on their way to slaughter so this end, if such it was, could not have been worse, but it would be good if we were informed of their fate as well as the humans’.
ROBERTA BALFOUR
Malvern