Our NHS is no longer fit for purpose
ANOTHER week, another crisis though it could be another scandal, the NHS lurches from one to another and one must question how those at the coalface manage, morale must be at an all time low, or are they now inured to it.
For years it’s been paraded as the envy of the world when it is no such thing.
If it was defined by the efforts of the footsoldiers, it surely would be.
The model is no longer fit for purpose. How can we tolerate a system where waiting lists stretch months and years ahead, but if one offers to go privately the surgeon/ consultant/specialist can see you next week or next month and, in my case a few years ago: I’ll see you the first week in January, a month away, because I’m skiing over Christmas.
How do the administrators get away with “free at the point of use” when (a) it’s not free, and (b) it should be free at the point of need, and why is essential, but not life threatening treatment, like replacement knees and hips, why is it described as “elective surgery” as if it’s a patient’s lifestyle choice like a facelift or a bum tuck, who’s electing?
So it set me wondering about these administrators, the chief executives and senior managers of hospital trusts, the surgeons and specialists, the 27 quangos that run it and their executives working three days a week or is that three days a month, how many of these people taking decisions that affect the lives of ordinary people, how many have private medical cover? How many NHS hospital trust chief executives and senior managers have private cover written into their remuneration package?
I think we should know.
Richard Heath via email
We must read the truth about heatwaves
THE recent heatwaves have affected people in my community because of the age of many of my associates. The climate crisis wasn’t mentioned in so much of the reporting of the heatwaves and that even less was written about the fossil fuel corporations that caused and are continuing to fuel this crisis. The science is absolutely clear: With every fraction of a degree of warming, we’ll see and suffer more extreme heat, droughts, floods, wildfires and hurricanes.
The Government must step up and deliver a real plan for jobs, for insulated and energyefficient affordable housing and for climate action – a Green New Deal.
The media has an important role to play – and a moral obligation to tell the whole truth: this is a climate crisis caused by the greed of fossil fuel corporations, and the banks and governments that support them.
David Callow Via email
Deal doesn’t allow us to control imports
MANY readers may not have noticed that while the Tory circus was in full swing, the Government broke yet another promise made by a number of ministers by refusing parliamentary debate of the “Australian Trade deal” before ratification.
Ms Truss, as International Trade secretary on October 8 2020, said at the dispatch box that we will have a “world leading” parliamentary scrutiny process.
However, just before the recess, the deal was deemed to have passed scrutiny without even a commons debate.
This is important as it is the first substantial trade agreement
(as opposed to a rollover of existing agreements) that needs ratification and will be a precedent for others.
These trade agreements have huge ramifications for the food we eat, the nature of the countryside, agricultural jobs, and farming in general.
In particular, the deal does not
How can we tolerate a system where waiting lists stretch months and years ahead. Richard Heath
enable us to control imports of food produced below the standards legally required of British farmers. Yet again the government is breaking promises and riding roughshod over parliamentary scrutiny.
The Government needs to remember that it is Parliament that is sovereign and not the Government. It is the country that is supposedly “taking back control” not a few autocrats, who are increasingly stress-testing our Heath Robinson constitution to breaking point.
Chris Ramsden Via emai
Please think of wildlife during dry weather
THE weather is very hot and dry again and many of us struggle with it. At least we can have plenty to drink.
For our wildlife this is not the case as ponds and rivers dry up. Our badger and fox cubs are being found dead from dehydration. A bowl of fresh water put out will save lives. Perhaps readers would kindly consider doing this.
Valerie Russell via email