The NHS nettle

SIR – It is impossible to ignore the growing deficiency in the various services supplied (or not supplied) by the NHS.

Yet our Government has no ideas for how to change it – besides occasionally announcing an additional cash injection, which then disappears into an administrative black hole.

When will politicians grasp the nettle and propose significant, wide-ranging reforms to bring our health service into the 21st century? Gray Pratt

Banchory, Aberdeenshire

SIR – During a walking holiday in France about 15 years ago, a member of the party fell and broke her arm.

Our guide phoned for an ambulance and was told help would arrive in a few minutes. Sure enough it did: a taxi turned up almost immediately.

We expressed surprise and were told that most hospitals have taxi accounts for the walking wounded, since there is usually a taxi close by and it is cheaper than an ambulance.

This seemed so sensible that I mentioned it to some NHS people, who objected that a taxi driver, lacking medical training, could not be responsible for a patient. Yet surely it is worse for a patient to be left waiting in pain for hours.

At last it appears that this has been recognised (“Taxi will get you to A&E faster, patients told”, report, May 13). Brian Tordoff

Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire

SIR – On Wednesday May 4 my husband received a letter by post (dated April 30) confirming an appointment for an enhanced MRI scan on Sunday May 8.

Had we been away it would have been too late; and as there was nothing saying “Please confirm or we’ll cancel”, the hospital had no idea whether my husband would turn up.

We were left wondering why Royal Mail was entrusted with this. A phone call or email would have been far quicker, ensured an affirmative response and greatly reduced the risk of this valuable 11.5-hour session going to waste. Hats off to them, though, for working on a Sunday.

Carolyn Andrews

Bournemouth, Dorset