Madam, – With the recent Trump visit the usual suspects are frothing about the precious NHS in these very columns.
Let’s be clear, we see regular comments from members of the public that have had outstanding service from the professional and dedicated staff within the NHS. That is not at question.
The issue here is the survival and longevity of the NHS in its current model of delivering healthcare. Unfortunately we, the general public, abuse this hard pressed service on a daily basis.
Just walk into your doctor’s surgery and see how many patients have not turned up for appointments.
Having recently visited Ninewells, the amount of people that did not attend for a procedure was utterly disgraceful.
We cannot continue to treat the NHS as our personal pop-in service.
The health service was set up in 1948 and the model has essentially not changed.
However, this is unsustainable in the 21st Century. Healthcare costs in Scotland run at about £13 billion, which equates to 40% plus of the Scottish Budget.
Politicians of all colours continue to use the NHS as a political football to try to encourage votes.
The time is coming that the political classes will have to address the sustainability and cost of the NHS. They cannot continue to mislead the public.
Make no bones about it, if we wish the precious NHS to remain precious and be fit for purpose, we will have to pay more through direct taxes or some kind of healthcare plan.
James Y Lorimer.
Kenmuir,
Main Street,
Luthermuir.
Tolerance is running out
Madam, – I readily concede to being blessed with no more than average intelligence but I wonder why so many so-called ‘brainy people’ are apparently unable to understand plain English.
The result of a referendum is not some kind of plea, or request or any other sort of overture.
It is a direct order, command, instruction to carry out whatever course of action is decided.
Employees have no alternative other than to carry out the demands of their employers.
Thus, by failing to do what we tell our politicians, these people are directly and irrevocably out of order.
No compromise or shilly-shallying; and the only choice for dissenting employees is to leave the job or be fired.
In any other walk of life, such a disobedient employee would be instantly dismissed; but our lot try to hide behind excuses such as principle or honour.
No such taradiddle is acceptable.
We now have more than 400 politicians who have refused to accept our instructions while still thinking they can remain in their jobs.
In simple terms that should allow us to sack them immediately for conduct which is nothing short of parasitic and cowardly; and in the process, they are inflicting unacceptable damage on our country.
So, why in the name of common sense and mature reasoning are we still tolerating this?
James Parker.
9 Banchory Green,
Collydean, Glenrothes.
Pollution fears over explosion
Madam, – The huge coal storage bunker at the closed Longannet Power Station in Fife has been demolished in a series of controlled explosions.
Charges were used to bring down the site’s disused bunker bay.
Going by the photographs there was plenty pollution in the air.
No doubt coal dust? One has to hope that there was no asbestos dust or any other ‘nasties’ thrown out with the explosion.
Roy R M McIntosh.
14/1 Springwell Place,
Edinburgh.
Wrong message from courts
Madam, – Am I the only one who is sick of seeing sex offenders walk free from Dundee court?
Yet a starving person who steals crisps from the shop gets nine months. What kind of message is this for victims of child abuse?
Clare Johnston.
9A Tulloch Court,
Hilltown, Dundee.
Planning for the future in Fife
Madam, – I read the letter from William Dryburgh (Conflicting Aberdour planning decisions, Courier, June 7) who obviously is a NIMBY and only likes decisions that go for him and not against.
Also why does he refer to house builders as greedy?
Is it not the case that more affordable housing for young people may be needed to bring inward investment to the area or let some of our desperate first time buyers get on the housing ladder.
Mr Dryburgh, why not sit down with the planners and let them explain why the two decisions are different?
Maybe then he might understand why they were made.
J. E. Thomson.
Camphill,
Broughty Ferry.
Stronger words than action?
Madam, – Is MP Joanna Cherry positioning herself as the Boris Johnson of the SNP?
Their timelines may differ but it’s increasingly apparent she’s as determined to be first minister as he is prime minister.
He believes he can succeed where Theresa May failed.
He suggests he can get a hard Brexit through the majority soft Brexit House of Commons, though it’s unclear how – and the Commons has voted against a No Deal.
She believes she can deliver where Nicola Sturgeon is failing.
She implies she can secure Indyref2 on an ambitious timescale, somehow magically circumventing the need for Downing Street’s agreement.
Both pander to the hard core of their parties – and both may well prove to be stronger on rhetoric than implementation.
Martin Redfern.
Woodcroft Road,
Edinburgh.
Different view but not divided
Madam, – Having had an email from Willie Rennie wanting me to become a member of the Liberal Democrats I might be more inclined if they did not constantly go on about stopping another independence referendum along with wanting to stop Brexit.
In 2012 my late mother was seriously ill and my job was made redundant.
I was thankful to rely on the folk of my home village of St Monans as well as my aunt Margaret Freeburn, a lifelong Labour voter, and her family.
Her three daughters, minister and nephew all support Scottish independence.
Did it stop us working with each other and getting along with each other? Definitely not.
While it may have suited them politically until now it is time for the pro-union parties to realise that Scottish independence supporters are voters to be attracted.
Those who are pro- union and constantly going on about a divisive independence referendum simply will not do it.
Peter Ovenstone.
6 Orchard Grove,
Peterhead.
Contribution recognised
Madam, – No doubt many nationalists will be asking why so many kilts and bagpipes at the D- Day commemorations, on behalf of the British.
The reason being the service of so many Scots servicemen and women in the British Armed Forces.
Anyway, what is more British than the bagpipes!
William Ballantine.
47 The Quarryknowes,
Dean Road, Bo’ness.
