Sick of seeing our NHS used as political football

OVER the last couple of months my wife and I have needed to use Forth Valley National Health Service, me at Falkirk Eye Clinic and my wife at Forth Valley Hospital.

My wife was in hospital for 16 days, a part of that time in ICU and all I can say is the professionalism, empathy and care given by all our NHS staff was second to none.

This applied from the initial 999 call, to the ambulance crew, the hospital domestic staff, nurses and consultants.

Yes, like in every organisation there are problems. Yes, some people are unfortunate to encounter those problems but I am getting totally fed up with politicians using those problems as a football for their own ends.

They stand up in Holyrood at First Minister’s questions and quote one unfortunate incident and fail to recognise all the people who have had a good experience.

Treat staff with respect, have patience and recognise there may be more urgent patients requiring treated than you and you won’t be disappointed.

To the staff in Forth Valley, I thank

you all for looking after my wife in hospital and treating me in Falkirk. We don’t appreciate how lucky we are.

Geoff, Stirling

Silly decisions

DOES the SNP know what it is doing? A 10 per cent rise in drugs deaths is countered by a large increase in the minimum price of alcohol, making drug use cheaper than drink.

The air quality in Scotland’s cities is to be made even better by stopping people driving into them with no mention of the consequent upheaval. Sillier for Scotland?

Dr G Edwards, Glasgow

Shameful record

YEAR after year, Scotland has been shamed by having the highest drug death rate in Europe.

And year after year we hear the same old story from the SNP – that they are working hard to tackle the problem.

The truth is the SNP haven’t got a clue what they are doing to solve this terrible loss of lives and, if you speak to the people who work with addicts, they confirm little progress is being made in setting up drug rehabilitation schemes and finding an alternative to the failed methadone programme.

The SNP should be honest and admit their total inability to tackle Scotland’s dreadful drug death rate – and hang their heads in shame.

Dennis Forbes Grattan, Aberdeen

Send spare teachers

THE suggestion that Glasgow has too many teachers (“Teachers are a luxury we can’t afford”, March 9) is both silly and offensive.

There is a worldwide shortage of teachers, for reasons of pay and conditions, but Glasgow has spares?

Please tell what the secret is or at least send us a few, as Australia is short of teachers, especially experienced ones. You would be welcome, especially as you speak English, sort of.

Students need more support than ever after the isolation of Covid times so if there are even a few spares I am sure there will be plenty to do.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne

Bullish solution

A PLOT by Just Stop Oil to target MPs at their homes and offices was discovered and Phoebe Plummer, who previously threw soup at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, was later arrested on suspicion of being part of it.

JSO’s manual encourages demonstrators to break windows, throw paint and deflate car tyres and other vandalism.

Those who break the law should be severely punished and certainly never admonished.

Demonstrations should only be allowed where they will not cause distress, inconvenience or financial loss to the public.

A field of cow dung and an angry bull would be an ideal location.

Clark Cross, Linlithgow

Waken up

BEING 74, the saying I remember from my childhood was: “When I was your age.” But all that has changed as today’s children seem to go to school when they like and do what they like.

Always respect your elders was another saying but sadly this seems to be forgotten.

The world is in a dangerous place at the moment. Israel and Putin and the blond buffoon in the US should be a big wake-up call to everyone.

Jim Fotheringham, Milton of Balgonie Fife,

Bus stops on tap

IN SOME parts of central Scotland, might I suggest installing some bus stop displays in local shops and pubs?

A particular arrangement existed well before phone apps at the village of Tarbolton in Ayrshire – in the Commercial Inn (the meeting place for the famous Tarbolton Bachelors’ Club).

Rolling into the village, the bus drivers would sound the horn and the passengers would finish their beers, and step outside to catch that bus on its way back out from the village.

There may have been a signal, though, rather like the sheepdog that would stand at the bus stop in Langholm so drivers would know to get the (inebriated) shepherd carried out of the adjacent bar and on the bus home.

I’d love a campaign to have more “bus shelters” with beer on draught and a healthy fire in the hearth.

Dave Holladay, Glasgow

A rise in alcohol unit pricing means drugs are now cheaper than drink DR G EDWARDS, GLASGOW