Sir, – It is with disappointment, but not surprise, that I learned of the fresh concerns over the future of Stracathro Hospital in The Courier (June 14).
Last weekend was the last opening of the minor injuries facilities in Brechin and Montrose at weekends. North Angus accidents now have to travel to Arbroath or Forfar – and soon to be Dundee or Perth I believe.
Stracathro is an excellent facility and used by patients from all over Tayside when Ninewells and PRI cannot cope (almost all of the time).
NHS Tayside has handled its finances in an abysmal manner and left all but Perth and Dundee with minimal facilities. We need a new set of business-minded managers and not bonus-seeking individuals prepared to raid the charity coffers.
Thirteen years ago Stracathro hosted a South African company which worked part of the time for BUPA, PPI and other health insurance providers. They also did out of hours orthopaedic work for the NHS overspill at a discounted cost.
However, it was decided we did not need this service and the cost was not justified so they were sent back to South Africa. They left a very positive legacy in equipment and staff plus many happy clients – private and NHS.
Stracathro is a pleasure to visit or to be a patient. Parking is easy and free (unlike at Ninewells where it can take 45 minutes to find a space). There are overnight serviced rooms for patients and visitors travelling from further afield, plus a bunch of happy helpful staff (and I speak from personal experience).
When are NHS Tayside going to look at a similar model to the one we had at Stracathro 13 years ago?
That’s if they can find another professional company outside the UK which does not mind being stuffed after they make it work.
George Sangster.
Logie,
Montrose.
Hospital threat must be lifted
Sir, – NHS Tayside and the Scottish Health Minister must give us a categorical assurance that Stracathro Hospital is not under threat again.
We have already experienced huge cuts to our health services in Montrose and Brechin, such as the closure of our local hospitals and the closure of the superb Mulberry Unit.
The loss of Stracathro Hospital would hit Angus people yet again and it is essential that this rumour is dispelled immediately.
Most of us are aware of what the Tayside Health Board mean by review, and frankly we have come to believe consultation by them is a token exercise since in the past they have ignored the results.
It is essential that our MSPs fight this threat and do it publicly. They must get an assurance from NHS Tayside and the Scottish Health Minister that there is no threat to Stracathro Hospital.
David May.
Lamondfauld Lane,
Hillside.
All change, but not for Yes case
Sir, – I quite agree with Graeme Finnie (letters, May 14) that the next referendum – if there is one – will be different to the last one because too much has changed.
Us leaving the EU will ensure that the substantive debate is concentrated on currency, the border with England and whether we actually want to be or can be in the EU or not, all the issues that the Yes/SNP campaign struggled with in 2014 and are still struggling with.
The economic situation in Scotland has diverged away from the UK average in a very worrying manner, so the economic case for independence is much weaker.
In the aftermath of the last referendum, all the parties at Holyrood got together to negotiate new powers and these have all been granted. We now have the powers that 100% of our main political representatives signed up to. That is a very powerful statement indeed when you think about it. We have the constitutional position we all agreed to.
So, the next time it will be different, but will it be better for the Yes movement? I think not, and almost certainly, the SNP think not either, hence the silly stunts and attempts to raise the temperature because they have nowhere else to go.
Victor Clements.
Taybridge Terrace,
Aberfeldy.
Poor political role models
Sir, – I have been in education for more than 20 years and over time a growing minority of pupils have become increasingly insolent, defiant and uncooperative.
When I watched the “performance” of Ian Blackford in the House of Commons, I was appalled. This type of role model behaviour is totally unacceptable, but it is being copied by some in school.
Putting party politics aside, the politicians should be very aware that they, like sportsmen and women etc, have a responsibility to act in a manner that portrays a positive attitude.
Behaviour such as that displayed on Wednesday would not be that of a role model I would be happy to recommend to pupils in Scotland.
R Lindsay.
Dalcraig Crescent,
Dundee.
Silent majority still see clearly
Sir, – The rowdy, theatrical and ludicrous stunt by Ian Blackford MP and his SNP colleagues in the House of Commons will fool no one except, of course, their most ardent supporters.
Apparently this hysterical and almost childish action was about the so called “power grab” by Westminster.
In a strange twist of logic the SNP would be perfectly happy to have the unelected EU Commissioners in Brussels keep all the powers that are now being returned to Holyrood as a result of Brexit.
Their staged, righteous indignation concerns the temporary retention of 24 powers by Westminster in order that the internal UK market can run smoothly in areas such as farming, fisheries and food labelling.
This seems reasonable as it would be ridiculous having four different sets of rules within Britain increasing bureaucracy, expense and lessening business efficiency.
The fact that 63% of Scottish trade depends on the rest of the UK seems not to have penetrated the Nationalist mindset.
The constitutional pranks of a party obsessed with the breaking up of the UK may act as a temporary diversion to the dire incompetence of Ms Sturgeon’s governance but the SNP’s noisy and irrational constitutional wrangling will not fool the silent majority.
Iain G Richmond.
Guildy House,
Monikie.
SNP following Thatcher’s lead
Sir, – I was appalled at the disgraceful behaviour of the SNP in parliament on Wednesday by walking out in what can only be described as a pre-planned, childish and embarrassing stunt. And what is more concerning is their leader Nicola Sturgeon was proud of their actions.
The SNP’s goals seem to be independence at any cost and causing maximum dissension at Westminster.
Through their toxic leadership style, they are no better than Margaret Thatcher for causing division in Scotland and ignoring the wishes of the Scottish people.
The only thing they achieved was to make themselves look embarrassing and they did themselves no favours.
Gordon Kennedy.
Simpson Square,
Perth.
Our parliament is in peril
Sir, – In 2014 enough Scots were persuaded to vote to remain in the UK by the promise of the “most powerful devolved Parliament in the world”.
Now we know exactly how powerful that parliament put in place, lest we forget, by the Labour Party, really is: swept contemptuously aside by a Tory government Scotland didn’t vote for, in a vote on Brexit, which Scotland also didn’t vote for, on an issue, the EU Withdrawal Bill, which all of Scotland’s MSPs, except the Tories, opposed.
There can be very few people in Scotland who would say the country would be a better place without its parliament, yet it is clear that, once the EU is despatched, the Brexiteers, having established the precedent, will be coming for it next.
Tory government minister Caroline Nokes has already compared it to an English county council.
Is it not about time that all of the Scottish nation, even including some Tories perhaps, stood together and said No.
Les Mackay.
Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
