NHS Scotland in better shape than England- your views

NHS Scotland in better shape than England

It is sad to see attacks, such as those by Ann Wimberley (Letters, February 9), on public services in Scotland.

I have personal experience of working for years in the Scottish Health Service and can assure her that it is miles better than the English version.

In 2012 the UK government changed the way that the English health service was run, with wasteful competition between providers including private health companies.

The SNP government refused to do the same in Scotland, preferring a health service that relied on co-operation rather than competition.

Very recently the UK government has realised the mistake that it made and, at great expense, is now reversing the whole process. In the intervening years it also wasted nearly £10 billion on a failed NHS computer programme.

That is not all.Unfortunately in England, unlike in Scotland, visitors and patients still have to pay heavily to use NHS-owned car parks, an imposition that is widely hated all round

It is sad that abolition of parking fees doesn't extend to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary car park, but that was sold to outside investors by a previous government and would cost many millions to buy back.

Nor are there prescription charges in Scotland. I know the argument is made that in England these are only levied on those who can afford them, but I have pharmacist friends who tell me that when charges were made they were asked by some customers which medicines were most needed as they couldn't afford to buy all that had been prescribed.

As a result many conditions worsened with extra cost and misery all round. We have a lot to be thankful for in Scotland. Let's not lose it.

Ian McKee, The Cedars, Edinburgh.

Why pay lawyers to hide the facts?

Does anyone know why taxpayer funded lawyers have been able to sabotage the Salmond Inquiry by banning the publication of material evidence?

How is this gerrymandering of a parliament-ary inquiry allowed? Geoff Aberdein is not permitted to provide evidence in person or in writing, yet he is a key witness who testified in court about the meeting that he attended with Ms Sturgeon on 29 March 2018

Why are we, the taxpayers who are funding this charade, not permitted to hear the testimony of a key witness?

We have access online to Alex Salmond’s submission, but he is not permitted to present it to the committee of inquiry or to answer questions about it.

A regime that orders its affairs in such a way that favours its own side in this matter and is allowed to get away with so doing has more in common with the Mafia than with a democratic polity where lawyers uphold the law.

Jill Stephenson, Glenlockhart Valley, Edinburgh.

Have a heart and help BHF raise funds

To mark National Heart Month this February, I’ve teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to call on the nation to do at least one thing to improve their heart health, while raising much-needed funds for the charity’s life saving work.

More than half (54%) of those surveyed are determined to get more physically active. Taking on an activity such as BHF’s MyCycle or My Step Challenge can help us move more and support the charity’s vital work.

Since the pandemic, the BHF has had to cut investment in new research by £50 million. Having been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition as a child, I know the importance of the work they do.

Roger Black MBE, BHF Ambassador