Your Letters: December 16

During a recent hospital stay, I was reminded of the wonderful, caring staff who work very long hours for little financial reward. Working with a lack of beds and forcing some patients to lie in corridors and staff to operate in. Labour has just announced the abandonment of the four-hour waiting and cutbacks. It seems only recently that we very naively (conned?) into believing the promises of Johnson and his stooges with coach-covered slogans promising millions of pounds a week extra and thousands more staff – not cutbacks!

We are told in the TV ads that the problem is easy to fix. Just go private. If you can't afford it you will probably have to wait a long time to get seen. So sign up now and start paying out. It's so simple. This is the USA style of medicine. If you cannot afford it, tough – stay ill and start taking very strong painkiller! This is how the government is trying to deceive you by the back door.

We know how terrible the USA system is unless you have large financial means to fall back on. It generates wonder bonuses for the companies, but no help for the needy. It really is time to compare our falling apart system with the Scandinavian system. Increase taxes and we could have a top NHS similar to theirs. But for that to occur we have to demand our government sorts out what the NHS was originally meant to be – for the majority of the people of the UK. Meanwhile, our concerns must surely be with the staff who will further suffer if the present conditions continue. They deserve better.

Roger Cain, Clee Hill

MARIE CURIE IS HERE TO HELP YOU

Christmas is such a special time of year. A chance to celebrate and create lasting memories with those closest to us. It’s also a time when we miss our loved ones the most.

But spare a thought for those people facing the last Christmas with a loved one, or the first without them – the festive season can be particularly challenging and difficult to navigate. Many families need help to get them through the season, and don’t know where to access the support they need.

Marie Curie believes everyone should have expert care and support at the end of life, free from unnecessary pain, and have the dignity and respect they deserve, whatever their illness or where they live. 

Our free support line and webchat, with trained officers, is open over the festive season, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, offering practical and emotional support on everything from managing symptoms, navigating care to financial information, including how to get help with energy bills, and bereavement support. Or just having a chat at a difficult time.

Our trained Support Line Officers are there if you need support or a listening ear, as well as our Telephone Companion service that offers regular calls at a time that suits you.

Whatever your question, we’re here to help you.

If you or someone close to you needs support over Christmas and New Year, please contact Marie Curie for free on 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/support to chat online.

Matt Williams, Marie Curie Associate Director, Information and Support

WHO'S PAYING TO PIPE SEWAGE?

The news that Severn Trent are planning a new network of pipes to move treated sewage away from conservation areas sounds good. But, there's always a but, anglers are not happy about it even though it's moving the 'treated waters' to places that don't have the same protection levels. I don't know why or what their complaint us and hope they'll clarify this for us.

I do have a grumble, though. Who does anyone think is going to fund these works? Two choices? Severn Trent or its customers? Three guesses as to the answer, it's the customer, again. As usual! Ofwat have agreed to this saying our bills will rise by about £20 a year up to 2030.

Good Lord above, Severn Trent, aka Polluter in Chief around here, get billions from customers to clear up their mess. They, along with their mates, call this 'an investment' in the future by reducing pollution. It would be a safe bet to gamble on shareholders get increased dividends while the customer forks out more money to fill Severn Trent's already bulging purse.

Michael Gough, Wombourne

BLACK HOLE WAS MUCH BIGGER

Labour supporter Christine Hart was right to point out that "Well, it was not a £22 million black hole but a £22 billion black hole." This was brought to our attention by "economist" Rachel Reeves who probably informed Starmer using a mobile phone lent to her by Louise Haigh, possibly while he was stood in his silk pyjamas bought by Lord Alli, allegedly.

Ms Hart might care to look up the words "reputedly" and "allegedly".

Trevor Howard, West Midlands

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