Saturday’s letters to The Courier focus on the waste of failed health appointments, the fate of Emperor the Exmoor deer, a renewable energy opinion poll. support for football referees, and climate predictions.
Use sanctions for failed appointments
Sir,-Do people who make and then miss clinical appointments with hospital consultants (October 27) have any sense of responsibility? The cost of this outrage for the health authority in Tayside was £2.6 million and I am sure the figure for Fife would be comparable. We need to add to this, of course, the number of “did not attends” in health centres and surgeries right across the country.
The management in my health centre in the west of Glenrothes regularly draws attention, without apology, to the number of people who do not turn up. It is usually well into three figures each month.
If 150 people don’t attend for appointments lasting, say, an average of 10 minutes, that amounts to 25 hours a month or 300 hours a year wasted in clinical terms. That’s just for one centre in one town.
The cost is unacceptable and reflects badly on the approach some people have to the health service.
There is an inconvenient but necessary question to ask. Would people treat the service with more respect if there was some sort of charge for appointments? A free at the point of use health service is something we cherish. Abuse of the system should trigger effective action at both a managerial and political level.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Needless slaughter
Sir,-How sad to learn of the demise of Emperor, the largest wild land animal in the UK.
The mature, 12-year-old deer was cut down by a “professional hunter” — someone who kills for sport or culls old, or poor-quality specimens. While one would reluctantly accept the latter when all else had failed, Emperor did not fit the bill. He was a magnificent animal and well known in Exmoor.
We have had the usual platitudes from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, that the shooter had actually done him a favour as death would have been instantaneous and Emperor was saved from having to endure a hard winter. Is anyone really taken in by this?
Even the conservation element of their title lacks credibility in this case as the deer, in his prime, was denied the opportunity to pass on his genes.
Emperor was killed for nothing less than the joy of killing.
If anyone who goes out to shoot wild animals and birds can explain the thrill this provides, I would be pleased to hear of it, since, despite what the BASC spokesman says, death is not always instantaneous, and I am at a loss to understand it.
Ronald Oliver.4 Lethnot Street,Broughty Ferry.
Questionable opinion poll
Sir,-R. H. L. Mulheron is quite correct in saying that a poll by Scottish Renewables stating that 78% of those surveyed favoured wind farms was not representative of the population (October 28). I have discovered that only 1001 adults over 18 were consulted online.
Out of a population over 18 of four million? Questions must be asked whether this was a random selection or targeted and if, in fact, their own supporters’ list was used?
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
Give football referees a break
Sir,-The arrogance of some football managers has always intrigued me. Now they, and others, are at it again. This time referees are in their sights. There are hints before a game that the pending official had better be on top form and statements afterwards about being disappointed with the referee’s performance.
If managers and players are so sure about the rules of the game why don’t they take up refereeing where split-second decisions have to be made without the benefit of multi-camera views?
I never have believed in strike action but if referees put aside their whistles for a spell until this nonsense stopped I would, for once, have to revise my opinion.
I hope it does not happen but it must be a distinct possibility.
Ian Wheeler. Springfield, Cupar.
Unreliable prediction
Sir,-The liquidation of Ardeonaig Hotel has to be regretted (October 27).
South African owner Pete Gottgens had also set up Scotland’s first vineyard to produce a white dessert wine.
He stated that he based his decision on the opinion of experts who predicted that France may soon become too hot to grow grapes.
Maybe here is a lesson we all can all learn. Never put your trust in experts however seemingly qualified, not least those working in the field of climate change. Barbecue summers in Scotland? No.
Neil McKinnon.Tulchan Garden Cottage,Glenalmond.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.