Politicians should put people before votes

Sir, – I watched Willie Rennie at FMQs complaining that the health and welfare of Scottish police officers is not receiving enough support.

I found his concern about this, along with much of his health -related issues, to be insincere and hypocritical.

A few months ago he was knocking on doors looking for votes for his party. I took the opportunity to invite him in to my home to discuss problems I had encountered re health provision in Fife.

I told him about me breaking my back and being refused x-rays for12 weeks due to NICE guidelines.

I told him I had been mis-diagnosed at the St Andrews Hospital and by my GP. They both said that I had muscle spasm rather than a broken back – I was also refused an ambulance because a broken back is not considered to be life threatening.

I was forced to travel to Aberdeen where I paid £250 for a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. I was operated on in the Aberdeen General as there was nobody able to give me the treatment I required in Fife or Ninewells Hospital.

NICE guidelines state that for a “sore back” doctors should wait for 12 weeks before doing diagnostic tests because 80% of “sore backs” get better within this time. By their own definition that means that 20% do not get better.

A friend of mine also had a “sore back” and he was refused x-rays for the 12 weeks. In his case it was eventually discovered that he had cancer and has since died. We are told that the sooner that cancer is caught the better. The totally unnecessary 12-week wait did not help my friend’s treatment. Probably the outcome would have been the same but we will never know.

Mr Rennie told me he would take on my concerns and left. To date he has done nothing so I can only assume that he couldn’t care less about me or my friend.

Last week once again he was knocking on doors looking for votes. My wife invited him in once again. He pretended to be interested in the state of my health. I told him that on the June 8 I had been referred for a bone scan and still have not been given a date.

I have telephoned the clinic and they told me it I should go on the list this month.

Apparently there is only one part-time person in the whole of Fife and Ninewells who is capable of doing this type of scan.

Mr Rennie said he would take up my case if I forward him the necessary information.

Surely a man in his position should be taking on this issue in a much broader manner for the people of Fife and not just for me?

I know he is happy to outsource the political governance of Scotland to the Westminster elite, but he was voted in as an MSP with responsibility for his community and all he seems to be interested in is votes.

I am not a member of the SNP nor any of the Westminster parties. I do expect our elected representatives to put people before votes. Harry Key.

20 Mid Street, Largoward.