Stop voting for Hancock!

I read Stanley Johnson’s column (Hancock might surprise us and win I’m a Celebrity, yesterday) with interest and even though I’m no devotee of this programme, have annoyingly found myself tuning in to see Matt Hancock perform in the latest bushtucker trial.

Yes, he appears to exhibit a “can do” attitude with these ghastly trials, confronted by every insect and creature known to the jungle. But I am not convinced he will win over hearts and minds in the country because to desert his constituency does not really correlate to a responsible attitude to the very important role he is paid to do.

I can understand why he wants “forgiveness” for breaking the very rules he set in the pandemic, but with the very sensitive Covid inquiry ongoing, is this the time to go large in the jungle and get handsomely paid for it?

I don’t think so. Less public altruistic actions nearer to home in this dire cost of living crisis would float my boat more. But it is also time that the public stops voting for him because he has shown that he can succeed in the trials. We should let him take a back seat, which might not be entirely to his liking.

Judith A Daniels Great Yarmouth

Crypto crash

I have struggled for years to understand cryptocurrencies. Following the latest collapse of FTX, I’ve come to the conclusion that they are no more than digital Ponzi schemes. Am I wrong?

Leaving your morality at home

How sad that world football sold out to Qatar. The world’s most respected players will gather in Qatar to dispute who is the best player and national team. It’s a pity that it is being played in a country that has a total disregard for human rights.

Those attending, playing and officiating in Qatar should think about the role they are playing in the continued mistreatment of women and minority groups in the country.

Keith Poole Basingstoke

A message for Joe Lycett

Joe Lycett, please do not destroy your cash if David Beckham does not do the right thing! Loads of charities could use it right now.

Joy Haskell-Cooper Address supplied

Hospitals don’t have to be ‘lobster traps’

Your article rightly points out the terrible challenges many are facing in getting safely discharged from hospital and the issues that are exacerbated through long hospital stays (Top doctor ‘desperate’ to keep parents out of ‘lobster trap’ hospitals, News).

Technology is not a panacea, and will not work for all. But for many patients, remote monitoring technologies backed by clinicians, care workers and nurses – so-called virtual wards – offer a much more effective alternative to safely discharge patients back into their homes, where recovery is often faster and safer.

For example, we’ve run successful remote monitoring for patients in social housing in the Black Country, supported by

NHS Digital and the Black Country Integrated Care System.

Now we’re helping one of the major trusts to enhance their virtual ward services, and have also been involved in improving ambulance connectivity, helping reduce unnecessary conveyance to hospital and supporting better handover – further reducing pressure on beds.

Digital technologies are here now that can help the NHS and social care alleviate some of these challenges. We should be focusing much more on driving successful adoption with the brilliant people who work in the NHS and social care.

Robert Franks Manaǀng director of WM5G

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