Some honesty is required

Sir, – I see that the Montrose Minor Injuries facility will close at weekends from June 4 due to lack of staff.

My wife had occasion to use the facility recently having had an accident with a knife.

She called and was asked to come in as soon as possible, arriving at 10.15am.

She was the 11th patient since they opened at 8am with three others waiting.

This would seem to be good use of one qualified nurse and an auxiliary – both of whom did an excellent job with my wife all fixed up in less than 30 minutes – with no need for the doctor or a trip to Dundee.

It seems to be claimed that the problem is staffing yet there are more than enough staff willing to work weekends.

In fact, the problem is that the NHS will not, or cannot, pay for an excellent and necessary service seven days a week.

The excuse for closing the Montrose facility is poor and I believe wrong.

This is the second time we have had to use the service and on both occasions it has been exemplary and saved us travelling further afield for treatment.

If NHS Tayside cannot afford the service, it should at least be honest.

I believe there is enough support for some private funding locally until we get management in place that are fit for purpose.

George Sangster. Woodlands, Logie, Montrose.

British people would be horrified if they knew the true extent of government policy toward Commonwealth peoples