Sir, Reference the two reports on NHS Fife (May 25), some questions should be asked.
If it is problematic for NHS Fife to retain an out of hours service in Glenrothes, how can it be considered acceptable to send x-ray results electronically to the other side of the world, given the shortage of radiologists in Fife?
At what cost? And with what alacrity of attention by the receiving agency/hospital and returned electronically to NHS Fife?
What if radiologist and doctor wish to speak with each other? Hardly a quick dash along the corridor.
The radiologist problem could hardly have occurred overnight, so to speak. The demographic change was referred to 20 years ago.
Not a lot of time to prepare for it, I suppose.
Still, the new hospital could have been built with demographics in mind plenty of beds, enhanced medical staffing levels, according to the needs of each ward and the patients themselves and so on.
We need fewer NHS trusts, boards, chairmen, executives, “divisions”, committees, managers, directors, facilitators, “heads of . . . ”, deputies, assistants, “members” (some paid, some elected), meaningless brochures to mention just a few aspects of patient denial, non-productive effort (or even lack of it).
Thus would more funds be available for that which matters to the NHS its patients and to its medical personnel.
Of course administration and procurement are needed, but at a realistic level, not the overmanned bureaucratic system we have at present.
A T Geddie. 68 Carleton Avenue, Glenrothes.
Take to the lifeboats . . .
Sir, I have read and listened to the latest pronouncements of Michael Moore, now the occupant of a sinecure, he himself claimed should be abolished.
His boss has admitted that the UK is steaming towards a national debt of £1.6 trillion; the much vaunted triple A rating has disappeared in a puff of smoke; “farmers of the revenue” continue to laugh at the futile efforts of HMRC, who are holed below the waterline by an ever-increasing variety of tax loopholes and now continued membership of the European Union has been thrown into doubt.
Despite all this, Westminster clings to the illusion that by expending billions on the hideous obscenity of Trident, Britain can remain a world power. The Pound, the use of which is clearly grudged to Scotland is kept afloat only by the oil in the North Sea yet Moore persists in inventing new ways of telling us we’d be sunk by independence!
In point of fact, the UK economy is a financial Titanic and a lot less than a large iceberg will send it plunging to the bottom. Let’s take to the lifeboats before the music stops . . .
Joseph G Miller. 44 Gardeners Street, Dunfermline.
Angered by comments
Sir, While I am no supporter of David Cameron or his policies, I find the “attack” on the Prime Minister, for going away on holiday at this present moment, to be utterly repugnant. In my opinion, Labour MP Sarah Champion is trying to score political points off the back of an appalling tragedy, the murder of soldier Lee Rigby.
Mr Cameron, like anyone else, is entitled to a holiday and let’s face it, despite the shocking circumstances of the young soldier’s death the country is not under imminent threat from a foreign power. I should imagine there will be many in Ms Champion’s constituency, including
Labour voters, who will be angeredby her comments.
Robert T Smith. 30 Braeside Terrace, Aberdeen.
Number plate nonsense
Sir, Last year my car, a much-loved 3 series BMW tourer, failed its MOT. It was nothing mechanical, but the number plates were back written though still perfectly legible from the required test distance.
The other day, the same result, in spite of having new plates made from a well- known national bike and car spares dealer, another fail, this time on the spacing of the digits.
I realise examiners have no choice in these matters, their livelihoods, or their employers’ can rest on such decisions, but I would like to hear from one of those who propose or enforce these ridiculous rules to come forward and justify them.
It would seem that anyone using our roads is now seen as a cash cow, to be milked for all they are worth. Common sense has no place in the final assessment.
For years drivers have personalised their plates but no matter what, they can still be recognised, so what’s the problem?
G Stewart. Springbank, Clayholes, by Carnoustie.
Toilet problem
Sir, Does Cowdenbeath not come under Fife Council? I am a disgruntled shop keeper who has to take abuse every day because we won’t let the public use our toilets.
The public toilets on our high street were closed without consultation and the building was then sold off.
The so-called comfort scheme we have in place is a joke as it’s in a place only open Monday to Friday. So don’t get caught short in Cowdenbeath at the weekend!
Jim Paterson. Kassy’s Kitchen, Cowdenbeath.
A belligerent minority
Sir, Make no mistake, same sex marriage is not about equality, that was established with civil contract. It is about a small belligerent and bullying minority being able to influence the state.
The marriage of a man and a woman is a solemn religious joining of two people who wish to procreate and nurture the next generation.
The principles of our religion have been established in our Bible and I don’t believe the terms can be altered at a whim to suit a minority.
Religion is indeed a personal choice and if not acceptable then don’t join, but do not try to change the principles to accommodate personal preferences.
Any attempt to change the ideals and principles of our country’s religion will seriously affect our society and the obvious next step for civil partnership for all will destroy marriage as we know it and ultimately be detrimental to our children.
The government has never ceased to tell us how it will never give into bullying or pressure from minorities who threaten society, so why is it that we are continually bombarded with laws and rules which reduce our freedoms to speak, travel, or walk abroad within our towns and cities, while allowing minorities the freedom to preach against our way of life?
Whatever happened to our democracy and is there any hope we shall ever hear from the silent majority?
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
Incompetent, but can always fund pay rises
Sir, I refer to your letter from Andrew F Gilmour, May 14, who stole my thunder and I agree wholeheartedly with his comments. Our local councillors are continually complaining about the cuts in services and would like to see a rise in council tax to protect services, but there’s never any shortage of funding when it comes to executive pay and pensions.
One of my own experiences of council incompetence, in 2012, was when I was threatened with bailiffs and court action to recover council tax I did not owe. This matter carried on for several months until I asked for the assistance of a local councillor who contacted the chief executive of Perth and Kinross Council to investigate. The matter was eventually resolved as it was discovered that my council tax was being deposited to the wrong account.
Thank you Perth and Kinross Council for the hassle and time-wasting. No apology was ever received after months of emails and unnecessary telephone calls.
Ian Robertson. Station Road, Crook of Devon, Kinross.
Ashamed of Scottish roots
Sir, The recent demonstration against the visit of a politician to Edinburgh cast a very dark shadow on our country.
The Scottish people have always been renowned for their tolerant views of others, irrespective of their colour, creed, religion or politics.
I had a call from a friend in Canada who had seen the incident on TV and he felt ashamed to be of Scottish origin.
I also felt sorry for those who took part in the demonstration as they must have lost a day’s wages/salary, while the student faction would lose a day’s study.
At one time the Scots were respected throughout the world. Why change that view?
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.
History lessons were skewed
Sir, Like Ken Clark (Letters, May 18), I experienced political brainwashing during history lessons, in favour of class distinction, the Empire and England’s part in every war.
In my late teens I learned some of the truth, rejected most of what I had been taught, and really enjoyed watching the Union Jack being lowered for the last time in one former colony after another.
As a member of an international penfriends’ club I know well that there are good and bad in every nation. I would never allow any difference in ethnicity or race to be any barrier to friendship or trust, but I do react against the attitudes of the Tory right and Ukip.
Last month I was in north Germany, where I felt more at ease than when in any British Tory stronghold, in which many see themselves as superior, and despise foreigners.
In Germany they had to learn the hard way that there is no master race.
I agree with Ken Clark about celebrating the First World War in 2014. If Germany had not been devastated by the Treaty of Versailles, it is probable that Hitler and Nazism would never have come to power.
Robin Ball. 27 Morgan Street, Dundee.