NHS criticism was unfair

I would like to comment on Mr. David Grummitt’s rather cynical letter about the NHS.

I have benefited from having the NHS since its inception in 1948 and have always been proud of it. Unfortunately, in recent years I have suffered ill health and have enjoyed NHS treatment that has kept me alive.

Treatment that in no way I could afford if I had to pay for it privately.

Whilst I recognise I did not have to pay at the point of treatment, I am aware the NHS treatment is not free but is paid for with taxes that I have paid for all my working life along with millions of others.

I am proud we have a health service that we all pay into and we all can benefit from.

I have had dozens of face to face meetings with doctors, nurses, receptionists and other medics and apart from arrogance in one or two consultants, I have always been treated with respect and care. In fact, I take exception to Mr Grummitt when he refers to those working in surgery reception as interrogators and talks of the arrogance of doctors.

The NHS is a massive organisation and of course difficulties and problems will and do arise but my own experience is of a caring and wonderful staff that work so hard to give us the best possible service.

Can I suggest he real problem of the NHS is the 10 years of underfunding and the continued privatisation of the service by the Conservative government?

Along with thousands of others, I will do all I can to keep our NHS publicly owned and properly funded and will direct my criticism, not at the staff, but at those whose obsession with privatisation is causing so much damage to the NHS.

Bill Martin

What can be done to make Ashford more cycle-friendly?