Readers' letters from Monday 18 Apr 2011

NHS will be privatised

If proof of Tory legislation is needed, the closure of Newbury House, in Victoria Park, provides it. More of our most vulnerable people will be condemned to a homeless life on the streets.Our NHS will be the next victim of the Tories. They have opposed it since its inception in 1948. Their opposition failed then because our people had a socialist champion in Nye Bevan. We have no champions like Nye today. Our only hope is to live by his example. Present day Tories are not as vicious as Margaret Thatcher, they believe in more stealth, but their obsession with privatisation is the same. The NHS will be privatised one day at a time. We will be the losers. Prior to 1948, our people could not afford medical attention. A similar situation faces the American people. Fifty million of them lack adequate health insurance. In the USA, profit is more important than human life. Nye Bevan faced the same situation when he founded the NHS. Will our people ever become aware of the political scene in our country today? How tolerant can they be?

Tom McGovern, Whalley Range

Economic blunder

Our blundering PM David Cameron must be as pleased as punch that the Lib Dems have taken such a bashing, as it has deflected criticism of his right wing policies, many of which have not been properly thought through.Cameron seems more interested in meddling abroad than what is happening at home. For example, he pledges millions of pounds to Pakistan while in the budget cutting pensioners’ winter fuel allowance.The biggest blunder of the lot, apart from that relating to the NHS, is the handling of the economy. Of course, sensible people know that there have to be cuts. It is the speed and what you choose that is crucial. Too many people out of work reduces spending power which results in more lost jobs. This could seriously damage any recovery.Gordon Brown and Labour’s policy was to have a longer timescale with more carefully chosen cuts.

Lionel S Bibby, Prestwich

Ring and ride hike

In the article on bus fare increases (MEN, Saturday) Dean Kirby did not mention the biggest increase of all – a 150 per cent increase for disabled users of the Ring and Ride service, between 8am and 9.30am.  This was 80p until this week, but now it’s £2. My wife and I greatly appreciate the service provided by Ring and Ride, and fortunately can afford this staggering increase, but many people can’t.If Ring and Ride find that no-one is booking a trip before 9.30am, they will know the reason. All the bus companies mentioned are private. Ring and Ride is run by Greater Manchester Transport, whose local authority members are almost all Labour controlled.

G V Dillon, Manchester

An own goal

Gary Neville, the former Red, is to join the Sky Sports pundit team for next season. Bad move for Sky. They deserve a red card because  40,000 Man City supporters will cancel their Sky Sports subscription and move to Virgin Media where there are the same sports programmes. It’s the biggest transfer flop of the century.

Blue Al, Gorton

National cruelty

I agree with Roy Bridges of Salford who says the Grand National race is not worth the number of horses that have died over the years.If those who are concerned with the welfare of these animals really care for them, they will cease to allow them to run in such a cruel race.Horses like to run and jump at their own pace and should not be made to jump hurdles that are obviously too high for them.

B Temple, Sale

The biggest failings of the Grand National result from the owners and trainers of these beautiful horses putting them in such a demanding race. Most have never run four miles, never mind jumped over 30 giant, tricky fences. Only horses that have been thoroughly trained to run long distances and either won or been placed in a jumps race should be allowed to take part for the safety of both jockey and horse.

P Hamlett, Stockport

Royal cynicism

It seems the number of people applying for street parties in the run-up for the Royal Wedding is not as high as anticipated. David Cameron spoke last week urging people to go ahead, have a party and not be put off by council red tape etc. I don’t think it’s because local councils are making it difficult. Consider the following: apart from the Queen and Prince Edward, most of the recent royal weddings have ended in divorce; Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew, most with more than a whiff of scandal attached. Perhaps this reluctance to celebrate has little to do with a lack of party mood and more to do with cynicism.

L Laddin, Whitefield

Trials of arranging appointments with GPs

My husband died nearly 12 months ago. I came downstairs one morning and found him dead in his chair. I have not seen or heard from any of our GPs since. Not one has ever asked me how I’m coping. I have a wonderful family behind me, but what about other people in the same position? How do they cope after something like that? It is a great shock. Earlier this year, I went to the surgery to have a blood test. I didn’t want to see any of the GPs so made the appointment to see the nurse myself. After she had done the test, she told me to make an appointment with a GP. I went to the desk and was told they couldn’t make appointments a week in advance. I was told I had to phone the next day after 11 to see if there was an empty spot.  As I was having the symptoms that had led me to see the nurse in the first place, I  asked to see a doctor that day and was told they had no empty slots. So I just told her to forget it and walked out. It is the GPs who run the surgeries or the receptionists, a few of whom should go to charm school. I worked for the NHS for over 30 years, so I know how to behave myself with patients and it is not the way some of them behave. I will be 80 this year and have been at the same surgery for 57 years.

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