Sir, Regarding your article on May 2 about V&A’s relaxed attitude about co-existing on the waterfront with Forth Energy’s proposed biomass plant, your last paragraph contained a startling revelation.
After much coverage of an emerging “warm” relationship between the two bodies, the V&A’s current plan for sourcing its heat is via a water-sourced heat pump (WSHP).
This involves extracting heat from the marginally warmer water of the River Tay and is a recognised renewable form of heat because it is ultimately derived from the sun.
Why, you might ask, is it showing a preference for that form of renewable ahead of obtaining waste heat from the biomass plant?
Could it be that the V&A would obtain the Renewable Heat Incentive subsidy directly instead of allowing Forth Energy to claim its own category of subsidy? Or maybe the V&A has realised that the carbon saving from a WSHP is about three times the carbon used to operate the pump, whereas the carbon savings from the biomass plant are highly questionable because of its inefficiencies, which mean that for every three trees imported into the plant, it will generate only one tree-worth of energy.
The justifications for the biomass plant are going up in smoke.
Doug McLaren. Friends of the Earth Tayside, 2 Crail Place, Dundee.
Exceptional care given by hospital staff
Sir, I must comment on my recent experience of PRI and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
I was unwell and attended PRI A&E. I must commend the young doctor on duty for patching me up and allowing me to make the journey to Ninewells for more intensive treatment. I spent four days in the care of ward 26 ENT.
I found the staff nurses, doctors, catering, cleaning and other support staff to be outstanding in their consideration, patience and understanding of me, my condition and concerns, not least in having to change bedding, my clothes and clean other areas on several occasions.
The professionalism shown by the staff was also very impressive, particularly the surgeon. However, perhaps the best example of this top-down care and professionalism was displayed by a porter. He had come to the ward to collect a patient and had occasion to blow his nose. He immediately went to a sink and thoroughly washed his hands.
Good basic hygiene is one of the building blocks of good patient safety, care and wellbeing and he was just as important as the highly-skilled surgeon in maintaining the exceptional care I received during my stay.
David J. Waterton. 22 Ferguson Drive, Perth.
Heaping on the praise
Sir, I believe Perth Royal Infirmary should be hailed as a flagship for the NHS. I was admitted to ward 4 on April 8 and, busy as the ward was,the level of attention was incredible and the kindness shown to the elderly would warm one’s heart.
The porters were all kind and gentlemanly and the clinicians who carried out the tests were efficient, professional and reassuring. The cleaning ladies had chats as they went about their duties and the medics were very informative, in such a professional yet kindly manner.
I cannot imagine any private hospital offering care at a higher level; one would have to be sprouting wings to do so.
Tina Wilson. The Gardens, Dunalastair, Kinloch Rannoch.
Shoring up Samsung
Sir, As you report on Wednesday, the Scottish Government has just announced its approval for a 642ft-tall wind turbine 115ft off the shore at Methil. This is claimed to be a test facility for newer and larger offshore turbines for South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries, but is being funded by a £6 million grant from Scottish Enterprise.
You simply could not make this up. An offshore test facility being tested in a few feet of water in the relative calm of the river Forth, within a few hundred yards of a town and paid for by the taxpayer for the benefit of a foreign company.
This is almost exactly what is going on with onshore turbines where mostly foreign companies benefit from subsidies paid for by electricity consumers to the detriment of those living near the turbines.
GM Lindsay. Whinfield Gardens, Kinross.
A lottery for which nation?
Sir, It is clearly seen now who the industry leaders are in the field of presumption and assumption. After declaring there will be no change in the National Lottery in Scotland run by Camelot post-independence without any consultation or dialogue on the matter with Camelot it has got to be the firm ofSalmond, Swinney and Co.
This is the latest in a long line of assumptions, based on no substantive evidence whatsoever.
Geoff Bray. Heather Croft, Letham by Forfar.