We should be grateful to devoted NHS staff

ONCE again, there is much public debate about the work of the NHS across the United Kingdom.

Inevitably, with a growing population and increasingly sophisticated medical techniques, demand for NHS services will constantly grow. There will always be understandable calls for more funding and there may be some ways in which small financial savings could be made while maintaining good service.

But, having been treated in 14 hospitals in six different countries, including spells in University Hospital in Walsgrave and in Warwick Hospital, I know how very lucky we are to have such a fine service, free at the point of delivery.

Our medical and supporting staff do a great job, often in very demanding circumstances, and we should be very grateful for their devoted work. Cllr David Skinner (Con) Westwood ward

appalling headline won’t help us win

I HAVE to write to say I am appalled at the attention-grabbing headline in your paper (‘£1 million; That’s how much councillors cost you’, Aug 9).

Your paper is the main vehicle for news in our lovely city. We are trying to impress the people who will decide on our application for UK City of Culture, I’m sure your misleading headlines will do nothing to help us. Ann Pithers Coventry

why do we need so many councillors?

FOR the past four years I have stated that Coventry councillors were robbing the taxpayers of Coventry.

Why do we need so many councillors? There should be a time for the younger element to take

crude attempt to shift the blame

I THINK we were all a bit shocked when we read about the Coventry councillors expenses but Matthew Batson’s letter (Aug 12) is just a crude attempt to shift the blame. The state of austerity we now live in is not caused by a few extra G&Ts or taxi rides. It is the result of greed and incompetence by the top bankers and the failure of the Financial Service Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to do anything about it. None of these bankers have been taken to court. You may remember the Chancellor, George Osborne, replaced the head of the FCA when he wanted to do a proper investigation. The Tories are handin-glove with such people. Malc Graham Long Itchington

cameron and Blair hypocrisy on fees

ANDY McDonald (Aug 11) rightly condemns Cameron’s hypocrisy and speaking fees of £120,000 – enough to pay for four nurses.

But will he also condemn Blair’s hypocrisy and speaking fees of £200,000 – enough to pay for six or seven nurses?

If not, why not? N Blackford Coundon

we miss our blue tie bus drivers

I HAVE noticed that many of the regular bus drivers on route number 13 seem to have disappeared.

Many of these were special blue tie exemplary drivers. Where have they gone? Promotion? Holiday? We miss them so much. Fred Foster Radford