Britain needs more GPS – whatever their hours

SIR – Dr Pamela Taor (Letters, June 2) suggests lowering the proportion of women entering medical schools, as many will go on to work part-time.

Surely the answer is to make medical schools larger and able to accept more trainees. To discriminate against able women on the basis of their potential future working arrangements is illogical.

Women doctors have much to offer and, apart from anything else, doctors should reflect the society they work in. Helen Elliott

East Harting, West Sussex

SIR – Clever young students should be encouraged by all means possible to study for a medical career in order to help stave off the looming crisis in doctor numbers.

Part-time does not mean inferior. A vast amount of knowledge and experience is lost to companies and institutions that refuse to move with the times and help those with families to combine work and home life. It is appalling that Dr Taor wishes to deny women the education she has obviously benefited from herself. Sara Cushing Byfleet, Surrey SIR – Instead of vying with promises of increased funding for the NHS, parties of all persuasions should come together in the new parliament and insist that the provision of future healthcare – physical and mental – be the subject of a Royal Commission.

That way, health professionals and those with knowledge of medical finance could give us informed options for the future.

Carrying on as we are is not good enough. We owe it to future generations to agree on what we need from the NHS; how demographics, technology and costs will affect it; and how it could be funded. Cdre Malcolm Williams

Chichester, West Sussex