PLEASE keep your letters to 250 words maximum giving your name, address and daytime telephone number - even on emails. Email: letters@swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Write: Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE. Phone: 01793 501806.

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

We must save NHS

I HAVE just watched the BBC news today and seen the disastrous state of our hospitals and the NHS in general. This is no reflection on the doctors, surgeons, and all the medical staff employed therein.

It would appear that we, and I mean all of us, are turning a blind eye to what is required to put this wonderful organisation back into good health.

We, all of us, understand that hospitals are overcrowded and this is not the fault of the staff.

I believe most of it is down to underfunding. Yes, I know we are putting more money than ever before into the NHS. But it is not being done coherently.

Money on its own is not the answer. Yes, we need much more money. Money in line with the increase in our population. Virtually no hospitals have sufficient room to accommodate the number of potential patients in its immediate catchment area. This must be looked seriously and speedily.

This includes or should include care homes also to free up existing hospital beds.This seems to be part of the problem and is, I believe, wherein the incoherent thinking is letting the NHS down and all of us with it. Yes, it does in the end come down to hard cash.

Where is this cash to come from? Would the general public honestly complain if there was a small increase in Income Tax to assist us in safeguarding our NHS? Don’t forget it was at one time the very best in the world.

I will be honest, I don’t know how much it would need to be, to create a life saver for the NHS. But all of the suggestions must be examined and a solution must be found. We must also take into account that we probably have some one million immigrants who have come here in the last few years. This has of course helped to overburden the NHS.

We don’t want a Select Committee to do this, we just need some simple common sense. Perhaps the Chancellor could look into how much he will need for the NHS to be put back to its proper state of service and then give us an answer as to how much we need to contribute.

Wherever the money has to come from, it must be found and very soon.

DAVID COLLINS

Blake Crescent

Swindon

....

Create more wealth

The NHS is fast running out of money. It now urgently needs a big injection of cash to keep it in good health.

The problem with the NHS goes a lot deeper than the simple need for extra cash.

The heart of the problem is that Britain is not generating enough wealth to fund all the public services that we need in Britain today.

The manufacturing industry creates wealth when it exports British made goods. Margaret Thatcher decided in the 1980s that Britain should move away from making things and concentrate on the service industry.

This plan was flawed. Services are very difficult to export and as a result Britain now has the worst trade deficit in the developed world.

Exporting is the only way to generate wealth. I wish that our MPs could spend as much time talking about wealth creation as they spend on arguing about all the different ways that they can spend our money.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green

Swindon

....

Respect our Queen

As her Majesty the Queen, that wonderful lady, approaches her Sapphire Jubilee let us all be thankful for a monarch who will make history regarding the time and status she has achieved.

Regarding the republicans who speak their thoughts on these pages, what is the alternative? Tony Blair and spouse. Gordon Brown and spouse. David Cameron and spouse. All of them could not get out quick enough when the chips were down, then lined their own pockets.

Who would like to carry on with a set agenda of duty to the public in a diary that cannot be changed, unless through bad health at 90? Any takers on that one? I knew a staunch republican who hated the monarchy. He was invited to a garden party with his good lady to Buckingham Palace for his services to charity.

He came back and said to me, Bill, that women stood for over four hours in 70 degree heat temperatures, shaking hands and making small talk to all her guests. He then told me, republican I may be, I will not change my mind on that one. But my respect for the Queen and her duties has astounded and humbled me.

I expect the usual replies on these pages from people who beg to differ – the hallmark of a free society. Here is a poignant message to them all: in one ear and out the other. Or should I say, as it is literate rather than verbal . I await your replies with delight and a smile. Mind you, sensible debate would be appreciated, rather than unfounded sneering bile, and character attacks without any credible foundation. No names mentioned, but you all know who you are.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way

Covingham

Swindon

....

Potholes are a problem

The manner in which Coun David Renard disparages the legitimate concerns of opposition councillor Matthew Courtliff demonstrates the contempt with which the political elite in Swindon operate (Adver 8 Feb).

Coun Courtliff is quite right to raise the danger of potholes as a matter of concern and as it falls to SBC to repair potholes, it seems odd that Coun Renard should adopt such a high handed attitude to the issue.

Perhaps it is time that Coun Renard set out a list of what he believes his administration should be responsible for rather than keep on subjecting your readers to his mantra of ‘we have to accept councils can’t continue to provide the services they have historically’.

With regard to the constant cry of ‘we have no money’, perhaps some of the £11 million raised from the sale of Thamesdown Transport could be spent on roads.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive

Swindon