May I respond to the insensitive front page article in the Evening Press 'Families Anger Over Last Days of Dying Mum' (June 11), in which details of a family complaint over their mother's care on one of the medical elderly wards at York District Hospital was examined.

As the Evening Press is well aware there is an agreed complaints procedure which hopefully allows the complainant to receive a satisfactory explanation and, therefore, allow recommendations for changes in practice where appropriate. I feel, therefore, that such a dramatic presentation was unnecessary.

Though such headlines and front page pictures may sell papers, they also leave a deep hurt and loss of morale on others, in this case, the staff caring for the patients in the Department of Medicine for the Elderly, York District Hospital.

I suggest the Evening Press not only has a responsibility to present a newsworthy story but also to consider the repercussions as to how other people may be affected by their reporting.

I would welcome the opportunity to show readers the caring support and professionalism of NHS staff. I suggest the health reporter could do this by spending a day with some of our nursing staff on a ward.

Dr D Heseltine

Consultant Physician in Elderly Medicine,

York Health Services NHS Trust

Editor's comment: We published a fair and balanced report on a matter of public interest after we were approached by a grieving family with genuine concerns.

Updated: 11:26 Friday, June 15, 2001