'Simply shifting existing resources from hospitals and GP practices isn’t enough' - Your Letters: July 10

The Health Secretary says the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan has staff’s ‘fingerprints all over it’, but for it to make a real difference to patients and services it needs to work hand-in-hand with those of us working on the frontline here in the West Midlands and across the country every day.

Every proposal in the Plan needs substantial investment – whether that means upgrading technology, repairing our deteriorating hospital and GP premises, or recruiting and training more staff. Simply shifting existing resources from hospitals and GP practices isn’t enough.

As for great neighbourhood care, there’s no doubt that early intervention is better - and prevention is better than cure – but this shift from hospitals to communities cannot happen overnight and must be underpinned by a detailed plan on resourcing it properly. If this is rushed through without proper consideration and engagement, it risks heaping pressure on both hospitals and primary care by taking resource away from one while piling work on to the other. The lack of grassroots and frontline engagement reinforces the devaluation of the medical profession by the government across the health system so it is vital that the Government listens to the profession. Ultimately, if we want to ensure that patients in the West Midlands can get the care they need, when they need it, proper and sustained funding is essential.

Dr Ian Barros D’sa, BMA West Midlands Regional Council Honorary Secretary

CYCLISTS CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT

Great, cyclists are sending videos of vehicles they class as near misses to the police, it's just a shame motorist cannot do the same when cyclist go through red lights, weave in and out of pedestrians, riding recklessly on pavements, riding two and three abreast on main roads, ride the wrong way in one-way streets, dump their bikes outside of shops blocking the footpath, the list is endless. And why can't motorists report these matters, simple, there is no way of identifying them to report them, they are simply invisible to the laws of the land but the poor old motorists is an easy target, as usual.

Yes, there are many lawbreakers on our roads but it appears the traffic laws only applies to those that can be seen and identified, unlike the invisible cyclist who carte blanche do as they want.

Pete Lowe, West Midlands

WHEN WILL THE MADNESS STOP?

Another 900 arrived across the Channel on Monday. The majority are single young men wanting a better life. When will this stop? 

The latest bonkers idea from Keir Starmer and his friend Macron is to have a swap shop. France will send one of their migrants here and in turn we will send one of ours back to them. How will that work? Who will get picked to get deported from all the thousands we have here? It won't cut down on the numbers if we are having one migrant back in return? Is it going to be better than smash the gangs? Keir Starmer loves to quote.

Carol Owens, West Midlands

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