The NHS should be above party politics

THE Prime Minister’s promise, on taking office, to sort out our muddled system for the care of the elderly is still not done and his enemies are taking full advantage while ignoring the continued attack

on the health of the nation by Covid19. That puts politics above health and practicality.

I think the NHS should be independent of the ebb and flow of party politics because it is too easy a target for power-hungry oppositions. We want stability, not change every decade. As the population gets better at staying healthy, the NHS should be shrinking, not hungry for ever more resources.

We oldies have to accept that the amount of care we need and our age when we begin to need it are variables we should take seriously, and delay care as long as possible.

Most Brits, including young adults, seem to think we should get all the medical help we want, with no obligation to live healthy lives, needing as little medical help as possible. Being overweight, I am guilty of not doing enough to stay healthy. But, at least, I have not bothered my GP more than a dozen times in the 45 years since I signed on. I wish I had thought about all this 60 years ago.

Perhaps, the National Lottery should fund prizes for staying healthy instead of funding very temporary, very high levels of fitness required for most professional Olympic competitions, which are becoming more political with every passing four years.

Sport is now big business, which cares very little for the damage it does to footballers’ brains, for example. I remember when the Olympic Games, rowing regattas and Wimbledon were all for amateurs and not unproductive multimillionaires.

Tony Maskell Newton Abbot, Devon