This Conservative Government stands idly by while the health care system in Britain collapses

SIR – On Sunday my father-in-law, aged 92 and fighting plenty of well being points, had want of recommendation and assist. GP surgical procedures had been shut for days over the vacation interval and, even when open, they struggled to supply care responsively. So he rang 111 twice, solely to obtain an automatic message stating that, because of demand, no person was capable of obtain his name.

There isn’t any assist available from anyplace. We are witnessing a whole collapse of well being care in an prosperous Western society. Yet there isn’t any coherent response from our elected leaders, both acknowledging the scenario or suggesting options, apart from repeatedly stating how a lot cash is being spent on the NHS.

Christopher Swinburn FRCP
Taunton, Somerset

SIR – I’m a retired GP and surprise how this Government can persuade GPs to work in a fashion that advantages the affected person fairly than the physician.

Dr Gregory Tanner (Letters, January 2) highlights lack of major care as a serious downside on this current disaster. There is not a filter locally to stop hospitals and ambulance employees being overwhelmed. Twenty-five years in the past that filter was the GP, who was the primary port of name for out-of-hours medical care. It is now clear simply how catastrophic was Labour’s determination to permit GPs to surrender the 24-hour dedication

I ponder whether the GP in its current type is an costly luxurious we are able to not afford. Three educated nurses could be a lot better worth, and with backup from a specialist practitioner we’d get some out-of-hours care for a similar cash as one part-time GP.

Having just lately skilled inpatient remedy and an emergency operation, I really feel that the issue shouldn’t be within the hospital – which labored completely – however locally.

Richard Stephenson
Aynho, Northamptonshire

SIR – James Le Fanu’s article (Features, January 2) on the report on the NHS by the Institute for Fiscal Studies fails to make greater than a passing touch upon the truth that, to cite the report itself, “the rise in GP appointments is especially placing, because the variety of GPs has fallen whereas the variety of hospital employees has elevated”.

Isn’t it time to acknowledge the laborious work being accomplished in major care?

Dr Mark Williams
Wareham, Dorset

SIR – An ideal instance of top-heavy non-clinical staffing within the NHS is the noticeboard displayed within the entrance lobby of most trusts. 

Many (together with my former office, King’s College Hospital) present a big array of head pictures of the in depth administrative employees, however not a single senior clinician. 

I’ve lengthy thought this offers a poor (although correct) impression to the general public of the relative significance accorded by the belief to its workforce.

Irving Benjamin
Emeritus Professor of Surgery, King’s College Hospital
London SE5

SIR – Denis Wilkins (Letters, January 3) refers back to the decline in NHS productiveness from danger of litigation.

The NHS can’t be trusted to analyze itself. Litigation supplies unbiased, rigorous, judicially regulated medical scrutiny in response to accepted medical norms. Access to justice is free on the level of want and out there to all.

Dr Anthony Barton
Medical negligence solicitor
London N1

SIR – I used to be just lately in rural Kenya once I suffered extreme chest pains. 

I went to the native cottage hospital at 10am with out an appointment. After ready an hour, I noticed the GP. He despatched me for a blood check and CT scan. The outcomes of the latter had been emailed to a specialist in Nairobi and returned by 3.30pm. By 4pm the GP gave me the all clear – it was only a minor chest an infection. 

The entire expertise price me the equal of £78.

Willy Watson
Hungerford, Berkshire