On Saturday, the small clear tube from my ear piece to the hearing aid broke, so on Monday I went to the RUH Bath, first by train at £7.20 return from Trowbridge, then by bus to the hospital – no return ticket anymore but instead an all-day ticket for £4.

On getting to the RUH I went to the hearing department to get a new tube fixed in place. I was greeted by three office staff, but alas was told about the notice on the door, which stated they do not do walk-in fixes any more. You have to make an appointment to get it fixed as they do not have technicians on hand any more and this has been in place for a couple of months. I said that I had not been there for at least two years, so how would I know?

I went back downstairs to reception to complain and they directed me to the PALS office in the corner of the atrium. But no one was there as they were at lunch so I then had a sandwich and a Coke for £3.85 – more money.

The young lady asked what the trouble was, so I told her about spending £11.20 to get there to be told I would need an appointment to get it fixed. The young lady went up to see if anything could be done but alas she said that they do not have any technicians any more, it is done by volunteers, and they had a very long list of appointments already.

So it looks like staff cuts which affect people that need help at once. In Bath I called into the large Boots on the off chance as they do hearing tests. The assistant went out the back and came back with some tubes. We cut one to fit and she also gave me a spare just in case. Well done, Boots and thank you.

Ian Sampson, Southwick.