'We were brought up the right way - Your Letters: February 13

It's about time that all these schools did till 3.45pm, an extra half an hour in school makes a difference to learning. I was at school from 8.55am, had a break at 10.15am till 10.35am, lunch at 12 noon, and a 10 minute break in the afternoon.

At least we could read and write before we left school, unlike today's children, because they are not in school as teacher training holidays are longer than when we were at school.

We had a February half term, one at Easter, a week at spring bank holiday, and four weeks for the big holiday in July/August.

We had a load of clubs to go to, none of this hanging around a bus shelter and causing trouble to other people, we never did that, we were brought up the right way.

G W Beard, Norton

SHROPDOC END BAD FOR PATIENTS

The decision to strip Shropdoc of its out-of-hours GP contract and hand it to a private, profit-driven company is a direct attack on patient care across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and even neighbouring counties. This trusted, non-profit service has provided essential care for decades, ensuring patients receive timely, face-to-face assessments when GP surgeries are closed.

The new provider, Medvivo - owned by a private equity firm - operates primarily on a remote basis. The consequences of this reckless decision will be dire: delays in urgent treatment, increased pressure on overstretched daytime GP services, and a surge in A&E attendances. At a time when the NHS is already in crisis, this move is not just short-sighted - it is dangerous.

We demand transparency. How was this decision made? Were patients consulted? And why is a critical NHS service being handed over to private interests with no proven commitment to our community?

This is not just about Shropdoc; it is about the future of our healthcare system. If we allow this, what is next? We urge MPs, councillors, and NHS leaders to intervene before it is too late. This is going to affect us all.

Dave Weston, Ludlow

LIFE LIKE THE GOOD SHOW

We live our lives now as though we are part of the cast in The Goon Show.

It struck me the other day when I heard the latest woke laws in operation that the way we live would in the 50s, 60s and 70s been a comedy sketch in say The Goon Show, Round the Horn or perhaps Monty Python.

A Etheridge, West Midlands

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