Sir, – Maaike Cook makes a reasonable point (More than NHS to thank, Courier, July 6), in that home carers and the care sector in general are the “Cinderellas of health care”.
It has taken this virus outbreak to expose that care homes, Care in the Community providers and others were not set up to cope with this level of infection.
This in my view is a typical failing of a profit driven industry, where they plan for the 80% events and struggle with the 20%.
It is not unusual to health care, it happens in other business sectors, as we see today.
From recollection Health Secretary Jeane Freeman frequently advised that ‘top-up’ support of PPE in April and critical care trained staff were made available and the delivery challenges overcome.
Simply saying there has been a lack of support by Scottish Government seems to cast the blame away from the responsible business owner of the care contract.
This is a rather harsh and uncaring way of putting it, but that is how contractual arrangements are made in a typical healthcare system as seen in the privatised USA.
I agree that home carers need thanked by being rewarded for their efforts, so how do we do this in a reasonable and equitable way?
A ‘carer’s income’ could be one step allowing the carer to step back from their normal employment, however, there are other issues in this area to be considered.
Finally, I would point out that listening to the daily briefings that Murdo Fraser and Jackson Carlaw want to shut down, Ms Freeman has thanked those people frequently for their efforts.
Alistair Ballantyne.
Birkhill,
Angus.
Doubling up on Covid tests
Sir, – At the weekend my wife and I had Covid tests at the UK Government mobile test centre in Drumgeith Road.
The young soldiers manning the test centre handed the test kits in the car window, and left us to get on with it.
The procedure is not particularly unpleasant, and not particularly difficult to implement, but there are several steps to work through, and the instructions are not very clear.
We are both reasonably capable, not stupid, yet both of us got it wrong, and had to redo it with another kit.
Coincidentally our daughter also got tested on that day, and she too had to get a second kit to complete the test.
Now if everybody has the same trouble as us, just for the sake of proper instructions, the total cost of the kits, and their administration, will be doubled, not an inconsiderable amount when millions of tests are involved.
Fortunately all of our tests proved negative, but it occurred to me that, in the hands of an unscrupulous government, with much confusion about testing, these tests could be presented as six tests done, none testing positive, which, projected nationwide, could considerably skew the statistics.
Not that I am suggesting that our Westminster Government are in any way less than ‘scrupulous’.
Les Mackay.
Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Sad to see Oliver leave NTS
Sir, – Neil Oliver’s departure from the position of National Trust for Scotland president is a sad loss.
The fact it involves his admiration for David Starkey as a historian makes it all the more ludicrous.
I too hold Starkey in the highest regard and I’m deeply sorry his career has ended in such a way.
When asked what he would say to activists who wanted to ‘decolonise the curriculum’, Starkey replied that it would make no sense for Black Lives Matter or any similar group to attempt something so silly because such movements were “wholly and entirely products of white colonisation”.
The vast majority of those protesting in Western city streets are the product of a cultural and racial mix.
As part of the great African diaspora, most would struggle to survive in the endemic corruption and violence of post-colonial Africa.
Like the late AJP Taylor, Starkey made academics green with envy by his success in the media.
Sadly he referred foolishly to the vast number of slave descendants and was delivered into the hands of the thought police patrolling academia.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
What will next month bring?
Sir, – I am writing to publicly thank Councillor Roz McCall for her chairing of a full day’s entertainment at the Perth and Kinross Council planning and development management committee last week (Plan pushed through despite missing vote, Courier, July 3).
I was fascinated that the legal adviser seemed determined to cross examine councillors rather than use his expertise to help them phrase what they wanted to say in legal terms.
I was also intrigued by the curious use of a “second vote” to support change when the custom elsewhere is that casting votes should be used to maintain the status quo.
This surprise was augmented by the decision to adjourn for lunch just after the vote, wherein Councillor Drysdale had had to exclude himself for a dropped internet connection.
If the adjournment had occurred before the vote, Cllr Drysdale would have been able to review the broadcast meeting to be fully informed, an advantage of virtual meetings that could mitigate against the problem of internet dropout.
I wonder what exciting things next month’s meeting will bring.
Gareth Thomas.
50 Muirs,
Kinross.
Teed off by golf booking system
Sir, – The current system at Caird Park for booking golf online is a total shambles, especially for OAPs who are not internet savvy.
You can only book three ballots per week and if you get them you are doing well.
I would also point out that if a lead golfer who has booked a tee time plus two players fails to turn up at the allotted time then other two players cannot play.
That applies even if the other two players are full members .
I do not understand this rule. Surely it would be safer with two playing rather than three.
Peter Kilminster.
Hebrides Drive,
Dundee.
