Anger at watchdog's stance over statins

In particular I pointed out that a large number of perfectly healthy people can experience serious discomfort and even worse as a result of statin usage. This is despite the fact that NICE accepts that statins will not improve their health in any way because 77 people have to be treated for one person to benefit. In my view and that of many others this is totally unreasonable.

I have now had a reply from Julian passing on a letter from Minister George Freeman. Here is the crux of the Minister’s response: “I would like to make it clear that it is not the case that NICE is recommending that statins should be compulsory for people aged over 50. As with all NHS treatments, statins would only be used if clinically appropriate and if a person consents to treatment.

“As an independent body, NICE is responsible for the development of its guidance which is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence.

“NICE operates with great transparency and makes exhaustive efforts to involve stakeholders in the development of its guidance.”

These are weasel words. No treatment is compulsory and it would be extremely unusual for any treatment to be applied without the consent of the patient.

The fact is that NICE guidance does carry weight with the medical profession and with patients. It is widely agreed that this latest pronouncement from NICE will mean the usage of statins will increase substantially.

According to NICE itself: “NICE recommends that the threshold for starting preventative treatment for CVD (cardiovascular disease) should be halved from a 20 per cent risk of developing CVD over 10 years to a 10 per cent risk.”

How on earth can any treatment be justified if only one out of 77 will benefit? On top of this many of those treated will suffer nasty adverse side-effects, which may include memory loss. There is a 48 per cent increased risk of developing diabetes.

The reality is we have an inept Minister who seems incapable of challenging the absolute rubbish produced by NICE.

The NHS is struggling to find the cash to pay the staff who take care of patients yet it never seems to question the huge expenditure on drugs, many of which are not only ineffective but cause dangerous side-effects in those who take them.

Verner Wheelock Glusburn Housing challenge Sir - Three cheers for Colin Speakman’s informative and challenging article in last week’s Craven Herald: ”Radical rethink on Dales homes”.

To summarise, since 1980 the national park has lost access to 3,500 local authority homes, and although 1,000 new homes or conversions were completed between 2001 and 2011, the population only rose by 100 and the holiday/second home housing has risen by 15 to 23 per cent.

Around 1,000 new homes were completed between 2001-2011 when the population only increased by 100 and “the proportion of houses used as second or holiday lets rose from 15 per cent to 23 per cent”.

Colin suggests that the national park target of at least 30 new ‘affordable homes’ per year is quite inadequate.

He does not make clear whether the affordable homes target are for rental or sale- the trend that needs to be reversed is that with privatising of the rental market, young people wanting to work in the park cannot afford to buy, or even rent and add to their expenses with long-commutes from neighbouring towns or live with their parents.

Similarly, the class of people who want to live in sheltered accommodation, such as the elderly who lived in Aynham Close, deserve appropriately designed and built energy-efficient options, that combine independence, with social contact - living in the communities where they lived before downsizing. Nothing has been heard of plans for replacing Aynham Close or the other 60 units that were axed at the same time Colin’s radical but practical list of suggestions to make local housing policy fit for purpose are a challenge and deserve serious debate.

I hope they will be taken up in homes, pubs, churches, Women’s Institutes and sixth forms and that our local politicians from our MPs to our parish councillors will give the local housing problem the attention it deserves.

I second Colin’s suggestion, that we look seriously at energy-efficient modern design, such as the Passivhaus standard developed in Germany and now counting 150 units in the UK, or such as the St Mary’s in Oldham development by Keepmoat, that slashes tenant heating bills and the energy needed to heat or cool them.

It’s not surprising that the chilly north is giving a lead. I hope the Craven Herald can be a forum for spreading information and opinion forming in this important area.

Finally, could the national parks not host a competition for an appropriate design of social housing – such as built in the Norfolk Area of Natural Beauty at Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk?

Anne Marsden Grassington ‘Not good enough’ Sir - We would like to applaud Jill Wilson’s and CPRE for getting to the very heart of the Local Development Plan.

As residents, we have followed the process with great interest, knowing full well that this is going to affect the quality of our lives for the next 20 years and beyond.

This woolly document as it stands is not good enough and Craven residents deserve better.

Councillors must now stand up and be counted. Do the job we voted you in for and represent us. Listen to the local people and act with vigour.

This is Craven and its residents’ future. We do not need a plan at any cost.

What we need is a robust and cohesive Local Plan – Craven deserves no less.

S Hartley and S Smith Moorview Way Skipton Rugby’s hooligans?

Sir - In a game of rugby for North Ribblesdale under-13s against a team of youngsters on tour from Cheshire, my son lifted one of the Cheshire players in a tackle.

It was an unintentional foul and no one was hurt, but the touring parents and coaches got very excited and shouted their disapproval at the referee.

Alan Chitty, the North Ribb coach, turned round calmly and told them to stop behaving like a bunch of football supporters; a damning insult and probably the most effective comment he could have made.

After a great day at Twickenham watching a recent match, I travelled back to Skipton on the train from Kings Cross.

I sat in a coach with half a dozen local men in their fifties, some wearing Wharfedale Rugby Club ties.

As they continued to drink and swear through the whole three-hour journey they delighted in offending the unfortunate men, women and children in the coach with their foul language, breaking wind and sexually explicit and grotesque songs. Other passengers avoided their gaze and some were so upset that they left the train.

The train was full with nowhere to move to. A brave older lady eventually told them what she thought of their appalling behaviour, but this made no difference to them and they clearly enjoyed the offence they were causing.

More space was available as passengers got off in Leeds and I moved to a different coach. I was sickened by their behaviour and relieved to be away from their foul speech and smell.

I think these people are probably well known in our local rugby clubs. Does Wharfedale know that it has members who behave like football hooligans?

Robert Phillips Tosside Skipton Speedy response Sir - An acquaintance of ours collapsed whilst talking to us at our back gate and my husband gave him CPR assisted by one or two others.

I called an ambulance and within two minutes it arrived and took over.

It was there before the fist responder - it was so quick, we were amazed, and thankful; it was rather stressful.

Our mate is now doing fine in Airedale, he seems to have heart problems.

Without our intervention and the speed of the ambulance service he might not have had such a good chance.

Mr and Mrs B Nash St Johns Court Skipton Boxing clever Sir - Every Friday, for several years now, I go to Bizzie Lizzie’s for fish and chips. And I always pay 10p extra for a biodegradable box, which lasts just fine for the 20-minute car ride home. The box is either recycled or put on the compost.

However, I always in a rather furtive even surreptitious manner have to ask for the biodegradable box, which is then, as if illicit material, fetched from below the counter.

Either this request is greeted with a indulgent smile or a perplexed frown. On a couple of occasions my request has been ignored since it simply doesn’t make sense. I wonder if I’m the only customer who asks for such contraband.

So, imagine my surprise when several weeks ago I entered Bizzie Lizzie’s to find 150 or so biodegradable boxes being readied for fish and chips. Ermysted’s PTA were holding a quiz night and some enlightened organiser had put in an order for biodegradable boxes.

Besides admiration, I wondered how said organiser knew that they existed in order to make the choice between polystyrene (polluting to make and a pollutant in the landfill if not canal and roadside) and biodegradable boxes.

There used to be a rather abstract and obscure poster in Bizzie Lizzie’s advertising these alien boxes but it disappeared. I know they exist because as a member of Craven CPRE I negotiated with Bizzie Lizzie’s to introduce them in an effort to cut down on litter and waste.

The point of this letter is not only to congratulate the Ermysted’s PTA quiz night organiser/s for doing their bit for the environment. It is also to urge Bizzie Lizzie’s to let their customers know, clearly, that there is indeed a choice.

Perhaps it could be the opening question after receiving the order, just as the offer of a plastic bag always comes at the end. A few extra words, another choice, but one that does make a difference to the environment, responsible business practice and our future.

Bruce McLeod Otterburn Missing the bus?

Sir - Several years ago I was invited (as parish chairman) to travel on the inaugural run of the X59 Bus service from Skipton to Harrogate and report back. Boarding the bus on the A59, I was told by the driver that he would have to charge £1 for my dog, or £2 if he wished to return. My dog agreed that this was excellent value, that he wanted to return, and off we zoomed over the purple moor.

On returning, I asked each passenger about their travel experience. Without exception, these 18 passengers told me that it was an excellent service, amazing value, and how much they had enjoyed afternoon tea in Bettys. Not one of these passengers had paid a single penny. Only my dog had paid.

Writing my report to North Yorkshire County Council, I said that this service was (financially) ‘unsustainable’, and that it couldn’t last. Four years later it had gone.

So here we are, faced with even further cuts to Craven’s rural bus services. The X59 has gone, the driver has lost his job, those people without a car (I am one) have their access to Skipton and Harrogate removed.

So here is my suggestion. Let’s re-hire the bus driver (job creation), reinstate the service (access to local services ), and offer every pensioner a half-price deal on the full fare. As things stand, dogs and penniless teenagers are subsidising freeloading pensioners to such an extent that there will shortly be no rural buses in Craven.

Councillor Robert Heseltine, according to your article (Craven Herald, November 6), is ‘spearheading’ this so-called rethink.

He states in your article that we taxpayers should cough up even more to support these ‘free’ buses. That is not going to happen. Until Cllr Heseltine faces up to reality our rural bus services will shortly be gone. I suggest that the county council removes this ‘spearhead’ before it is too late.

There is no such thing as a ‘free’ bus.

Peter Rigby Beamsley A cruel disease Sir - I wonder if many people realise that ‘myxomatosis’ is quite prevalent in our local wild rabbit population, especially in the Settle area?

It is quite distressing to see a poor creature suffering from this deadly disease, which was first introduced to the rabbits some years ago to deliberately wipe them out by the Government.

It is a very cruel and sad way to deal with these ‘wild’ and lovely animals. Please, if anyone sees a rabbit which is in obvious pain and suffering, they should contact the RSPCA or a vet to have it humanely euthanised free of charge, as it is a wild animal in pain.

Helen Rose Townhead Court Settle l Editor's note: Advice from the RSPCA on dealing with injured wild animals can be found at rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/injuredanimals, and on dealing with myxomatosis at rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/health/ Drive for improvement Sir - The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is at present promoting an assessment drive for any mature driver.

As I took the driving test in 1958 (and the Advanced Driving Test in 1998) I wanted to satisfy myself that my driving was still up to the high standards that I have always strived to maintain.

I booked an assessment and was immediately contacted by an assessor (a retired police driver and instructor) to arrange a convenient place to meet to begin the assessment drive.

After a chat about my reasons for opting for an assessment and the route we would be taking, we set off.

The assessment allows for a friend or family member to be present, so my wife came along.

We drove for about 60 minutes on a variety of roads, including a motorway, A roads, B roads and country lanes.

On return to our starting place I was given feed back on my driving, including assessment grades for: starting-off procedure; clutch/gears/brakes/accelerator; steering; positioning; progress/hesitancy/legality; observation and planning; hazard perception; signalling and mirrors; dealing with traffic and other road users; manoeuvring; stopping; concentration/consideration and courtesy.

I was delighted with the friendly feedback and the grades I was given, and now await the arrival of a certificate to confirm my grades.

The opportunity for mature drivers to have their driving assessed (there is no ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ situation) could be extremely helpful in developing the confidence to approach everyday challenging situations relating to road safety. It can also offer valuable reassurance prior to renewing your driving licence.

The assessment cost £35 - all in. Call the IAM on 0300 303 1134 or visit iam.org.yk/mda Tony Carroll Giggleswick Where there’s a will Sir - More than 30 charity-minded local solicitors in the Skipton area are waiting for readers to use their services to write a will this November and to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid, instead of paying the usual fee.

All the money donated is shared by nine of the UK’s best loved charities: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF and Trocaire (Northern Ireland).

Over half of all adults in Yorkshire (51 per cent) have not yet written a will. In addition, more than nine million adults in the UK haven’t updated their will for 10 years or more and so these wills may no longer be fit for purpose.

These findings come from research carried out to mark the launch of Will Aid 2014, a charity will-writing scheme that runs every November and last year raised £2 million pounds for the nine charities involved.

For those who need to write their Will, a solicitor is the safest and most secure choice. Solicitors are the only providers of will-writing services who have to be qualified, regulated and insured where there is redress through the Legal Services Ombudsman should things go wrong.

Now readers have the chance to put their affairs in order and help some much loved charities at the same time. But they need to act fast to book their appointments, because this offer is only available for the month of November.

Don’t make these solicitors wait in vain. Give them the chance to help your loved ones and charity. Just find a local participating solicitor at www.willaid.org.uk or by calling the Will Aid hotline on 0300 0300 013 and make an appointment today.

Shirley Marsland Will Aid campaign manager l Participating solicitors include: Walker Foster Solicitors Mr Peter Walker, tel: 01282 812340 Craven House, Newtown, Barnoldswick,BB18 5UQ John J Halliwell & Co Mr John J Halliwell, tel: 01535 653094 53 Kirkgate, Silsden,BD20 0AQ Walker Foster Solicitors Mr Stuart Rowland, tel: 01535 656000 63 Kirkgate, Silsden,BD20 0PB Walker Foster Solicitors Mrs Bridget Rosie, tel: 01756 700200 3 High St, Skipton,BD23 1AA Savage Crangle Ms Jenny Barron, tel: 01756 794611 15 High St, , Skipton,BD23 1AJ Coles Solicitors Mr John Carlisle, tel: 01729 823589 Town Hall, Settle,BD24 9EJ