Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I recently retired after spending much of my adult life nursing in Fife, first in the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, then for 24 years in nurse education in Fife.
Nursing and midwifery education in the UK was taken under the umbrella of higher education in 1996 and Dundee University won the contract which included Angus, Perth, Dundee and Fife schools of nursing and midwifery.
About six years ago, Fife campus students and staff won a campaign to prevent the university from closing the campus and forcing a move to Dundee. After conceding the success of Fife’s battle, promises were made that the campus would remain open and reinvestment and upgrading would take place.
After listening to former colleagues, I have learned that Dundee University is putting nurse education in Fife under threat once more by attempting to relocate mental health nursing lecturers to Dundee in order to fill gaps created by giving team members there voluntary severance packages.
The outcome of this move would be that mental health nurse education in Fife would be sacrificed to enable the programme to continue in Dundee from September 2012.
This would potentially undermine the adult nursing programme in Fife since the university would then attempt to centralise services by moving adult nursing staff and students in the near future.
At present, 100 pre-registration students each year 300 over the three-year programmes are educated in Fife to degree level. This is a lucrative earner for the university and an important source of local employment.
Fife campus provides an opportunity for mature students, often women and men with families, to obtain a degree and entry into the nursing profession.
The state-of-the-art hospital recently built in Kirkcaldy will require a steady supply of reliable, well educated registered nurses.
If Dundee University continues on its present course and systematically closes Fife campus it will be a potential disaster for long-term healthcare in Fife.
(Ms) Johanna Drysdale.8 Andrew Street,Lochgelly.
Not enough research done
Sir, – I am writing to clarify some points in the article ‘Writer fears for wildlife by turbines’ (February 16), in which I was quoted as expressing concerns about the dangers to wildlife posed by wind turbine applications at North Cassingray, South Baldutho and Lingo.
I did raise worries about peregrine falcons, but I was also concerned about the dangers to pink-footed geese.
I believe that not enough unbiased research has been done here on bird mortality rates and other potential environmental hazards caused by larger turbines generally. I greatly admire the work done by SNH, and the danger to pink-footed geese is being investigated by them.
It could be argued that the planners’ impact and other reports are insufficiently detailed or evasive and I am glad that SNH exists to scrutinise the representations made in such reports, which are, after all, drawn up by companies working for interested parties.
Because of the massive subsidies offered to landowners through the feed-in tariff system, we are getting significant numbers of wind turbines in places where they have an adverse impact on human and animal life, and this is the result of leaving our energy plans to market forces rather than logical and careful policy.
To guarantee those better-off individuals’ profits everyone, even the poorest, must pay extra on their energy bills which makes no sense economically, and is an offence against the sense of social justice that should be the bedrock of any society.
John Burnside.Arncroach, Fife.
Chance to put money…
Sir, – Alex Salmond is a politician who admits to being a punter and professes to be a pundit. He is unquestionably a very able politician who confesses to have an interest in betting. It is the latter aspect of his description that needs clarification.
The word “pundit” is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as a ‘learned expert or teacher’ which may apply to his knowledge of politics but, as far as is known, in no other field and certainly not in rugby.
Mr Salmond is inclined to go on a bit, suggesting that the people of Scotland are ready for, and want, independence. This may give him the opportunity of exploiting a situation which currently exists, exercise his betting prowess and put his money where his mouth is.
Bookmakers depend on prediction by way of odds their livelihood, after all, is on the line. Mr Salmond, upon application, would get 7/1 for his money for independence while an unbackable 1/16 is on offer for the status quo.
G. E. Muir.70 Abbey Road,Scone.
Did he consider anyone else?
Sir, – The only reason Donald Trump is complaining about wind turbines is because he does not want a windfarm near his precious golf course.
Mr Trump feels he should be given full consideration before a windfarm. Did he consider anyone else when he decided to take over part of Aberdeen?
(Mrs) Diane Ferrie.Baillie Nicol Jarvie Court,Lochard Road, Aberfoyle.
May be mistake
Sir, – Alex Salmond’s decision to delay his referendum on independence may prove to be his downfall.
History reliably informs us that governing parties have a limited shelf life. The SNP will not be an exception.
R. H. L. Mulheron.28 Cowgate,Tayport.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.