Trying to contain MRSA isn’t easy when patients’ relatives sit on beds and fail to adhere to basic hand-washing guidelines. Also patients walk to the main concourse or wander outside with a cigarette in one hand, a catheter bag in the other, while still attached to a drip.

The infection control team should clamp down on this. Domestics themselves are not allowed to leave the hospital with their uniforms on, but this rule does not seem to apply to doctors and some nursing staff.

I’m not saying all domestics are infallible. We are all human and make mistakes, but it’s too easy to pick on the people who do not have a voice to speak out.

We need management at the hospital to speak up for the domestic staff.

Morale is at an all-time low amongst domestics and many are at the end of their tether and looking for other work. — Ex-Domestic, Ninewells.

I am sure that this practice is not sanctioned by Tayside Health Board. I am sure the old guards who taught aseptic technique and strove for infection-free hospitals would turn in their graves. MRSA, need I say more? — Old Hand, Dundee.

There are problems trying to keep wards clean, made worse by visitors bringing in viruses and germs and not washing their hands, although everywhere in Ninewells is covered in signs asking visitors to do so. Staff feel even more demoralised by attitudes like that of the letter writer.

They constantly try to maintain high standards, though this is made difficult by lack of funding, staff shortages and patients and visitors not cooperating in the cleanliness campaign.

There are so many things that a nurse has to do every day, usually staying behind, without pay, to complete these duties.

As for the outbreak of MRSA; this is a bug that happily and without prejudice lives on the skin and bodies of most people. Many people who are admitted to hospital, whether it be through emergency or scheduled appointment, have MRSA. Does this letter writer think these people should not be treated.

It is impossible to have a germ-free hospital whilst patients have germs, Perhaps banning irresponsible visitors would have a more desired effect. — Student Nurse.

Contact numbers are, Martin Boag 01382 812444, Lynn Taylor (nee Robertson) 01241 860256, Michelle Perrett 07765 608752, Michelle Kelly (nee Hutchison) 01241 430709, Jim Gardner (staff) 01241 854990. — Peter Murphy (Rector 1976 to 1993), Burnside Street, Carnoustie.

In 1939, as part of the town’s slum clearance, we moved to Drumlanrig Drive, across the road from Happyhillock. We shopped at Jack Crowes, later taken over by his son, Mark. It was just a large shed and he sold everything from cheese to paraffin.

It was heaven to play at the Dighty. Our boys played football in the large back area of Drumlanrig Drive, only coming home for dinner and tea, then out ‘til dark.

During the war my father was a boilermaker, my mother a winder. I remember my father coming home the night the German plane dropped a bomb on Drumgeith Quarry. He threw himself down at the barricade at the bottom of Mauchline Avenue and tore his good suit.

My mother was furious. Mid-Craigie had a bit of a reputation back then, but I lived there for 50 years and I could write a book about the hard-working, decent people of the area.

We left our back door open from morning to night and no-one ever took advantage. — Aye Drummie.

If these protests were unsuccessful, I would imagine that a fair majority of the populace would simply move to the next town, simply to stay in Angus/Perthshire or Fife respectively.

If city boundaries are to be decided by the level of commuters travelling there, it may as well be suggested that Dunfermline is put within Edinburgh’s boundaries, Kilmarnock becomes part of Glasgow and Stonehaven and Inverurie both become part of Aberdeen. — Captain Cartography.

Finally he did drive off. Being police doesn’t give them privileges like this. — Angry Disabled Teen, Dundee.