YOUR headline on March 30 about patients being limited to milk is absolutely disgraceful, and the NHS Trust officials' reply that they were trying to ensure that its consumption was reasonable is totally unprofessional poppycock, and I would ask the question of what they consider is reasonable.

Surely what they get in hospital while recovering is up to the doctors, nurses and consultants. The only serious consideration is to shorten the recovery time which the NHS Trust don't seem to have thought about.

I ask another question. How much does it cost per day for a patient to be in hospital? If the food and drink are plentiful then anyone can see that the extra cost would be minimal compared to the cost of patients going home earlier.

The whole thought behind cutting food and drink is false economy, inefficient and in the long run expensive. I would suggest the trust consults its dietary experts.

J SIMPSON, Ross Street, Darwen.