Is the NHS outrageously overstaffed?

I MUST defend NHS staff against claims they’re all ‘fat’ and underemployed (Letters). I retired from nursing last year after 45 years and I know it isn’t the fault of the nurses if a clinic overruns: it’s the consultant trying to see endless patients in the limited time allocated. But people don’t mention the delay to the consultant: they rant and rave under their breath, but once in the consulting room their mood changes and they become pleasant. NHS nurses do a fantastic job for a sometimes ungrateful public, and they take the flak which should be aimed at overpaid NHS bosses. Please take your ingratitude out on them — at £5,000 a day, make them earn their money.

ELIZABETH KINNEAR, Leicester. I, too, have experienced overstaffed NHS departments. one solution would be for each ‘fat’ person to detail on a sheet of paper, broken into 15-minute sections, what they did and how, thus justifying their salary. the majority would struggle to complete this over the course of a 40-hour week, and the NHS could dispense with a considerable number, saving millions of pounds. the same process could be carried out in every town hall along with every other establishment in the public domain.

TREVOR GOODWIN, Rothwell, Northants. I’VE had to visit my local hospital every six months for the past seven years. At reception I’m greeted by a smiling receptionist. She might or might not be ‘fat’, but I don’t judge people by their body shape. I might have to wait beyond my appointed time, but I know some people need more time with the consultant than others. The next time you go to hospital, smile at the receptionist and you might have a better experience.

JOANNE GROOM, Essex. MoSt clinics at my local hospital run until 5.30pm, but the haematology department closes at 4.30pm. I arrived at 4.10pm, only to be told: ‘We’re closed.’ I pointed out the time and was told: ‘We couldn’t leave at 4.30pm if we accepted you now.’ I was the only person waiting to have blood taken, a procedure that takes just five minutes. I insisted on having it done or I would walk over to the Patient Liaison Service — and was grudgingly accepted.

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