Dear Editor,

As we head towards the end of the year we would like to give our most grateful thanks to the people of Wellington and surrounding area for their absolutely outstanding support to Christian Response to Eastern Europe (cr2ee).

It is of course impossible to name all the individuals who have donated items to be delivered to Moldova and war torn Ukraine but we feel a special mention must go to four groups - Wellington Methodist Church, Bulford Group, Wellington Inner Wheel and one of the Pop Up shops

There are also a number of individuals who act as a drop off point within the town , in particular Madge, Sue, Beryl and Pat who like us often find themselves almost overwhelmed by people’s generosity. Others have made financial donations towards fuel costs and sadly the passing of a loved one has seen family make contributions of items. Whether you have donated a flannel, a toy, a bike, fold up bed for a Ukrainian Field Hospital or one of the other numerous items - every item is valued. Thanks also to the local press, both paper and digital who have featured a number of reports. Thank you everyone.

There is still time to fill a box with Christmas gifts whether for a child, teenager, adult or senior citizen and if you decide this is something you can do it is needed by November 14. Contact us on 07773 579809 or [email protected]

Janice and David Bawler

Wellington

Dear Editor,

What I think the spokesperson for the newly opened dentist practice in Wellington, Dentistry For You, omitted to say, is that after I imagine the stampede to register as an NHS patient with them, within days they have closed applications to join their practice!

When I phoned to apply, I received a voice message informing me, no more registrations were being accepted, but I could leave a message, which I did.

Since reading the front page feature on the opening of the practice (October 17), I rang again only to immediately be directed to their voicemail. Whilst I again expressed my desire to register with them, I have as before, received no return call. So no, it is not dentistry for all, as their name implies.

Similarly, in welcoming the opening of this practice in Wellington, our local MP omits to question or ask, ‘for how long will this practice offer its service to NHS patients?’

My experience, as with others, of private dentist practices providing a service to NHS patients, is that at any time of their choosing, having signed up sufficient patients to expand their practices, they convert to offering only private paying patients, their services. And thus Wellington citizens, requiring NHS dentistry, are again un-provided for, should this happen.

I would hope our MP will press our government to provide in-house NHS dentistry services, and so avoid the possibility of a new private practice, offering only a respite to a growing need.

John Sivyer

Wellignton