NHS sweet nothings

THE NHS doesn’t need an extra £20 billion. What it needs is someone with courage and a sharp knife to cut through the layers of red tape.

I won my weight in chocolates in a charity auction and after my children had eaten so much they couldn’t face any more I still had 200 boxes left.

I decided to take them to the local hospital for the staff and patients to enjoy.

I explained to the receptionist what I wanted to do. Well, it took seven people to come down and see me and after 90 minutes, no one would make a decision to accept the boxes of chocolates. I dread to think how many people are involved in making — or in this case not making — simple decisions in the NHS. brian caULFieLD,

Worcester. I DISAGREE with Radio 4 Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray that obesity should be recognised as a

disease, not a condition (Mail). Obesity is caused by over-eating and a lack of exercise, unless there is a specific medical reason. Those who are obese should accept their lifestyle needs looking at, and not put any more pressure on the overstretched NHS.

JULIE PERKIN, Bristol. LAST week, I needed to have an MRI scan. My heart was racing, blood pressure was at boiling point and nerves jangling while I waited.

The nurse asked what music I would like to hear while I was in the machine and I said: ‘Anything by Frank Sinatra.’

As I was put in the tube, the first thing I heard was: ‘And now the end is near / And so I face the final curtain . . .’

Name supplied, Hendon, Gtr London.