Overworked GPS cannot police children’s diets

SIR – The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is correct in calling for a ban on fast-food shops close to schools (report, April 23).

This measure needs to be supported by stopping children from leaving the school grounds in school hours, and by providing cheap, tasty and nutritious food on the premises.

However, the College is wrong to suggest that GPS should be tasked with collecting data and talking to parents when they are already overworked implementing other schemes.

The morale of GPS is at an all-time low and numbers training for the specialty are dropping, with many partnerships failing to recruit new doctors. Unless GP numbers rise quickly, the Royal College’s plan will remain a pipe dream.

Dr Richard AE Grove

Isle of Whithorn, Wigtownshire

SIR – If planning legislation is to be used to control which shops are where on our high street, then priority should be given to restricting severely the number of betting shops. These cause far more damage to families and to society than any food shop.

Ideally, they should not exist at all. Jan Manning

West Chiltington, West Sussex