The unacceptable face of being disabled

Hospitals these days may have various criticisms levelled atthem, but patients are not likely to wake up and find snow on theirbeds.

That used to happen to Philip Whitmarsh as a child when he was apatient at the Bath and Wessex Orthopaedic Hospital which shared theCombe Park site with the Royal United Hospital.

He and his fellow patients used to be issued with balaclavas,mittens and extra jumpers to wear at night, to keep out the cold.

The large glass doors that formed one wall of their hospital wardwere kept open at all times except when the rain was driving in.

"One whole side was open to the elements.

"Following a heavy frost, I was used to …