To mock ‘toffs’ is as unfair as sexism or racism

SIR – Lady Elizabeth Barne’s treatment by a nurse who greeted her by saying “Here comes the toff ” (Letters, February 19) fills me – as a retired state-registered nurse – with shame.

It is shocking that a patient should be subjected to disparaging remarks. Sheena Lane

Aston-on-trent, Derbyshire

SIR – Birth and upbringing are factors that a young person has little or no influence over.

Mocking the results of these things is surely as malicious and unfair as commenting on another person’s race or gender. Nik Perfitt

Bristol

SIR – Lady Elizabeth finds it difficult to know how to retaliate.

With the publication of her letter and subsequent correspondence, I’m pretty certain that the “toff mocking” will have already ceased, with the perpetrator forever embarrassed by his or her inappropriate comments. Dr Martin Kidd Berlin, Germany

SIR – “Toff baiting” should be exposed for what it is: an attempt to politicise the NHS.

Recently, when I was in A&E for treatment after a fall, one of the questions was: “Who is the Prime Minister?” When I replied “Theresa May”, the doctor said, “God help us – I hope you didn’t vote for her.”

He was suitably shamefaced when I asked: “Would it affect my treatment if I had?” Helen Bower

Nottingham

SIR – George Bernard Shaw was right when he wrote in his preface to Pygmalion: “It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him.” Ian R Lowry

Reading, Berkshire