The week opens with letters discussing smoking at Ninewells, the Romans, wildlife management, road safety, the NHS, and praise for a retiring sheriff.
Disgust at smokers who ignore hospital ban
Sir,-We have had reason to visit Ninewells Hospital in Dundee recently on a fairly regular basis.
I am an ex-smoker and my husband is still addicted but we both find we are disgusted by the constant flouting by visitors of the no-smoking rules.
On arrival, the automated voice reminds all visitors that they are in a no-smoking area.
I have waited at the bus stop for the (excellent) hospital link back to Perth and have been within touching distance of a smoker who flagrantly ignores the constant messages being relayed every minute or so.
Yes, courage failed me when perhaps I should have reminded them of the rule breaking but I am beginning to think that these people must surely be attending the hospital with a hearing complaint.
(Mrs) Irene Thomson.72 Glasgow Road,Perth.
A selective take on history
Sir,-George McMillan (February 14) gives a version of ancient Rome which is more fairy story than history.
The idea the Romans were “morally strong” until corrupted by “the nanny state” is downright laughable. When did this “golden age” start and when did it end?
The Roman Empire was built on slavery. As long as more lands could be conquered, and more people enslaved, the system “worked”.
But, as the Empire expanded, the Romans found they had to extend citizenship to more people, just to keep them quiet.
Many, like Saint Paul, could say “civis Romanus sum”. When the creaking edifice reached the stage where military setbacks meant not enough new slaves were arriving to support all these citizens, the system collapsed. Yet, if anything, the Romans had become more “moral” than in the orgiastic bad old days.
Dave Coull.9 Inglis Court,Edzell.
Time for fox and crow cull
Sir,-The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) welcomes the RSPB study, The Repeat Upland Bird Survey, which explores the causes of population change in upland waders. It reinforces the message that predator control on grouse moors benefits declining species of birds, especially where crows are removed.
It would be very sad if we lost a significant fraction of our bird life through want of wildlife management.
The evidence from our research is that such losses are not inevitable and the North Pennines, which is almost entirely managed for grouse shooting and hosts high concentrations of waders, stands as a testament to the difference game management can make to conservation in the uplands.
This latest study adds to the weight of evidence that has emerged from the results of the Upland Predation Research project carried out by GWCT at Otterburn in Northumberland.
The findings, published in The Journal of Applied Ecology, identified that the control of predators such as crows and foxes significantly improves the breeding success of curlew, lapwing and golden plover.
It is gratifying that the RSPB’s work confirms the trust’s findings. The RSPB should now engage with the grouse moor management community and explain how their vision of the uplands will support the keepering effort that appears to be so important for some waders.
(Dr) Adam Smith.Director Scotland,Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust,Perth Airport.
Road figures lacked detail
Sir,-With reference to your article ‘Campaign on the hidden dangers of country roads’ (February 16), I think that this would have greater impact if the government statistics showed the actual number of those killed in car and motorcycle accidents in Perth and Kinross between 2005 and 2009 separate from the general 600 killed and badly injured.
Graeme Johnston.The Corner House,Inchture.
Unwieldy institution
Sir,-I read with despair Linda Renwick’s description (February 17) of how her efforts to reach the bedside of her dying mother turned into a nightmare because of Ninewells Hospital’s deplorable parking.
The sad fact is that the usual suspects will make the usual excuses but nobody will take any responsibility for doing anything because the NHS is too big to care.
Almost every other country in the civilised world has a health service based on charitable and municipal hospitals but dear old Nye Bevan insisted on nationalisation in 1948.
Sixty years later, most people accept that nationalisation does not work in any sphere but the leviathan is such a sacred cow that even Margaret Thatcher funked its reform. So our 700 health authorities and 5000 quango appointees bumble on with an agency rivalled only by the Indian railways and the Chinese Army in its size and inefficiency.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Sheriff who walked the walk
Sir,-Civic society in Angus will be the poorer following the retiral of Sheriff Norrie Stein.
A rare breed of a judge, he has devoted time away from the bench to support efforts to steer young people away from alcohol and drugs.
He has spoken from the heart about his sorrow in seeing young lives ruined by substance abuse — and backed his talk with action.
Robert Anderson.Kirkton,Arbroath.
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