No substitute for GPS

sir – I am flabbergasted by Philip Johnston’s ludicrous proposal that the NHS could survive without general practice (Comment, December 13).

The care that we GPS provide is the most cost-effective part of the NHS, taking up just 9 per cent of the overall budget. We alleviate pressures across the health service. Last year, there were more than 10 times as many consultations in general practice as attendances in A&E departments.

Mr Johnston suggests that technology will replace family doctors. He should tell that to the 90 per cent of patients who consistently report having trust in their GP. We embrace technology, but no app or algorithm will ever be able to deliver the holistic care that GPS are highly trained to do. Professor Helen Stokes-lampard

Chairman, Royal College of General Practitioners

London NW1

sir – I note that Dr Brown Bear, from the children’s series Peppa Pig, is blamed for placing unfair expectations on the NHS (Letters, December 14).

I wonder how the health system survived when “all sorts and conditions of famous physicians came hurrying round in a run” to sort out Christopher Robin’s wheezles and sneezles. Gill Wade

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire