It’s time for us all to look after our neighbours

AS A one-time Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, I have been asked to design a door or window poster for people who might be at high risk if they contract the coronavirus. Despite the good intentions, I must stress that this is not a good idea.

This is certainly the time for us all to be good neighbours, but you have to be careful about publicising where an elderly or vulnerable person lives. You don’t want them to be targeted by criminals.

It is better that residents of every street, road and avenue identify the vulnerable living among them without making it public and discreetly set up a network to help.

This is best done street by street, neighbour to neighbour, and between trusted friends.

My 92-year-old mother-in-law lives with us. We have two big dogs, so I was happy to post a small note on my door saying: ‘Elderly person lives here — please keep your distance!’

But I wouldn’t advise anyone else putting up such a note unless there are other able adults in the household.

SIMON IcKE, Aylesbury, Bucks.

Bring back rationing

AS Covid-19 continues its inexorable advance through the population, the thoughtless excesses of those who strip the shelves of everyday basics continues.

Isn’t it about time the four nations introduced ration books? So far, asking retailers to impose limits on the qualities of some goods bought has failed to work.

No matter how diligent the retailers are, it is not possible to stop these greedy individuals from re-entering a supermarket within minutes and using a different checkout to thwart their efforts.

The only effective way is to issue ration books, similar to those that became a way of life during the Second World War and only ending in the mid 1950s.

Obviously the restrictions would be limited to basics such as fresh foods but must include soaps, sanitisers, cleaning products, toilet paper, paper hankies, other hygiene products and a number of over-the-counter medicines.

GrAhAM WyLLIE, Greengairs, Lanarkshire.

Follow Singapore’s lead

I HAVE been following with great interest the spread of Covid-19 in Singapore, where my son lives. The first case was detected on January 23 and to date Singapore has had 455 cases.

Almost immediately the Singapore government took action with every infected person put into isolation and their contacts traced and isolated. There are severe penalties for not adhering to these rules.

There are nearly six million people living in this very small island city state, so you would expect the number of Covid-19 cases to be much higher.

Thankfully, their citizens are respecting the advice given by their government and have taken immediate action. Our Government needs to take advice quickly from a country like Singapore and stop appearing to dither when co-ordinated action is needed.

LyNNE StUArt, rotherham, S. yorks.

AS AN older person with underlying health issues, may I say that during this pandemic I would prefer limited resources to prioritise the young, NHS staff and others in the front line.

They are people who can help others, which I can’t.

S. BENSON, London SW19.

Paying the price

I THINK it is quite disgraceful for our Government to suddenly nationalise private hospitals without warning, if at all.

It is a blatant acknowledgement that, ever since the end of the Second World War (which I well remember), successive governments have repeatedly refused to build the (teaching) hospitals that should be the NHS’s first priority.

Even now there is grandiose talk about HS2 and a bridge or tunnel to Northern Ireland, with cost no object, but nothing about more hospitals, doctors and nurses.

The private hospitals were built with the money of insured patients, and are not there for the Government to steal whenever they choose.

I have seen almost new NHS hospitals demolished and wards closed down for no good reason, and nothing being put in their place. Stirling and Dumfries are classic examples.

My wife is almost crippled while waiting for a hip operation, and had to resort to a private source (which she can ill afford) to get a place in the queue.

Now the Government has cancelled that at a stroke at the last minute, and there is no chance she will get her operation in the foreseeable future.

The present coronavirus was, we are told, forecast years ago, but the Government refused to take any steps to prepare for it, and now we are paying a heavy price for such incompetence. ALAStAIr MAxWELL-IrVING,

Blairlogie, Stirling.

Brain fog misery

THANK you, Jane Feinmann, for raising awareness of the awful menopause and the possibility that HRT could be a secret weapon in the war against dementia (Good Health).

The brain fog I’ve complained about for the past 19 years has been ignored by the medical profession or assumed to be depression or chronic fatigue syndrome. Sadly, I have been told I am not one of the fortunate women who can take HRT because I have had breast cancer.

I reluctantly retired as a medical secretary due to the brain fog that meant I was struggling to cope with a demanding workload.

I am 67, but my 91-year-old mother reminds me of names and words I can’t remember.

I appreciate that women in my position have to accept NICE guidelines not to take HRT, but I would be prepared to take the risk to improve my quality of life now. I do hope research continues to protect future generations. NUALA tUGWELL, heacham, Norfolk.

Freeze shares

IN THE same way that stores, restaurants, hotels and travel face shutting down, the stock markets should close down.

This would avoid unnecessary and unwarranted speculation and useless volatility affecting corporations. Have we forgotten what happened in 2008?

PEtEr FIELDMAN, Madrid.

Who needs HS2?

NOW is the time to cancel HS2 and use the money saved to help those in most need.

It could also be spent on ensuring that broadband and mobile phone signals are upgraded to enable more people to work from home.

As a society we will accustom ourselves to new ways of transacting business and in time begin to appreciate the absurdity of congregating in distant towns in order to earn our living.

And then HS2 will be even more unnecessary than it already is. JULIA PIcKLES, cheltenham, Glos.