No way to run our NHS

Madam, – We are currently so short of doctors and senior medical staff in the NHS that more than half the surgeries in Fife are not in a position to accept new patients.

Logic tells us that, as the above fact is wellknown to our Scottish Government, that body will be rectifying this shocking situation by encouraging Scotland’s own universities to take in the keenest and the best of Scottish high school leavers.

Such a policy would make it likely that eventually those bright students will qualify and possibly take their places proudly as doctors and medical staff in their own communities.

Unbelievably, this simple and clear situation is being thwarted by none other than our Scottish Government and the Scottish universities themselves.

The reason is twofold – money and an understandable (but false) desire to assist the prospects of disadvantaged children.

All universities have a limited number of places for medical students.

If those places are taken up by fee-paying foreign students for financial reasons, the chances are low that they, once qualified, will end up in our NHS and serving our Scottish community.

As the remaining number of university places is being further depleted by giving priority to Scottish high school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds – many with barely acceptable entry passes – the number of places available to the bright and able high-flyers is being cut still further.

This makes no sense in the long run for the benefit of the Scottish NHS or for the staffing of our own surgeries. Archibald A Lawrie. 5 Church Wynd, Kingskettle.