A group of 20 pensioners became the victims of a series of bungled cataract operations at the Bupa Gatwick Park Hospital last year.

Some of those affected suffered near-blindness after being injected with a liquid which contained a preservative and was for external use only.

An independent investigation published its report in December and blamed the mix-up on national pressure to cut waiting lists and highlighted a lack of communication between staff at Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton and the Bupa hospital.

This case is indicative of the enormous pressure hospitals are under to meet often unjustifiable Government waiting list targets.

However, that should take nothing away from the pain and anguish suffered by innocent patients who could have been blinded because of the mistakes at the hospital.

No matter what pressures institutions are under, people expect a high standard of care from hospitals.

The decision to award one member of the group £15,000 compensation is right and there could well be more payouts to follow.

How heartless Watching someone commit suicide by jumping in front of a train is one of the worst ordeals any driver can face.

There is usually nothing drivers can do to stop in time, yet they are bound to be traumatised and feel guilty about what has happened.

Unsurprisingly, many take time off work to get over the shock and train companies give them all the counselling they deserve.

But Connex South Central, which runs most rail services in Sussex, still docks drivers' good attendance bonuses in these circumstances.

This is mean and heartless.

The bonus scheme is there to reward good attendance and taking time off to cope with trauma of this nature should not be counted against drivers.

Food for thought Labour MP Tony Banks says the Mid Sussex Tory MP Nicholas Soames should be set in a tub of aspic and preserved as a tourist attraction.

That's because the larger-than-life Mr Soames does not see eye to eye with him over a ban on hunting. The trouble with this suggestion is that food-loving Soames would probably eat the aspic.

And there are plenty of people who might say Mr Banks should be placed in a tub of boiling oil for his inept handling of England's bid to host the World Cup.