Children’s lives mean more than costs

I HAVE just seen and understood the full, dreadful implications of the threat to cardiac care in Leeds, and what this could mean for many people – particularly children – living in our region.

That there should be the need for even a hint of a debate on a threat to such a fundamental human necessity as a children’s heart surgery unit – provided within the framework of a state-funded health service – in one of the country’s most densely populated and widespread regions, is almost unbelievable.

That words like “cost” and – even more astonishing – “competition” should somehow find their way into the lexicon of such a debate, reflects poorly on anyone who does not openly oppose the move

For, in what has, since the NHS was democratically initiated in 1948, always been recognised as a definitive measure of civilised, ethical medical thinking, they have no place.

We’re talking about children here: children’s lives, not figures on a balance sheet, not profits, not who can maybe do what cheaper and with a quicker “turnover”.

If this is an example of the new approach to national health provision in this country, a glimpse of a new cash-driven ideology which proposes a strict financial governance of critical life-saving initiatives, then, ethically, that ideology has no place within what has always been a justifiably highly-prized State system.

Tyranny of local power

From: William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise, Acomb, York .

TOM Richmond gives a fine example of begging the question in its proper sense (Yorkshire Post, March 28). While arguing that MPs and councillors should be freed from their “social casework role”, he provides evidence suggesting that they have renounced this chore already. My experience confirms that evidence.

When I recently requested my MP, and then my local councillor to support me in my complaints against unjust treatment at the hands of my local authority, they declined to do so. This was not out of ill-will towards me or dereliction of duty. They simply had not the power to intervene. I was lamely directed to other persons and institutions as impotent as themselves.

I am unsure what political power is exercised by any individual MP, but the political power of the individual councillor has been in decline for many a year. In its place, we have witnessed the steady rise of the power of unelected local government officers. Their tyranny is restrained only financially, by the purse strings of central government. Otherwise, they act with impunity.

Before Mr Richmond reallocates “the casework aspect of public life” (or local justice, as I prefer to call it) he would need to show that it presently exists.

Oasis of peace and quiet

From: Julia Ellison, Knapping Hill, Harrogate.

in this day and age of troubles and unrest, wars, shootings, murders and anything else bad, it makes depressing news. Then there are the terrible natural disasters around the world.

My husband and I travel about eight miles out of town for peace and quiet. We go to Swinsty Reservoir, which is so peaceful, except for the many varieties of wildlife. The birds singing are so lovely to listen to. If it is a nice day, then the better, but we would still go whatever the weather, within reason.

Swinsty is just one of many accessible walks for the disabled in the region. We haven’t done many of the others, but Yorkshire Water has made great improvements for wheelchairs and pushchairs, as well as walkers of all abilities.

I have an electric wheelchair for outside, and it goes in the car with ramps, which is wonderful for me, as nowadays I would find it difficult and expensive to actually “go on holiday.” So, with my electric wheelchair and ramps, and a wonderful husband, I can get to Swinsty!

Over the recent long harsh winter, there were many very muddy areas on the “Swinsty walk” but now that has all changed with extensive maintenance work done by Yorkshire Water. So, after my long build-up, I would like to thank Yorkshire Water for the improvements made at Swinsty Reservoir.

And for anyone that says any different, usually about dogs or cyclists, read the beginning of my letter. There are worse things in life happening, so stop moaning, get to Swinsty and be happy!

More hysteria from the US

From: Jack Brown, Lamb Lane, Monk Bretton, Barnsley.

in 1954, I joined lads (I was 17, they not much older) on HMS Centaur, an aircraft carrier that had seen service in Korea.

Centaur took part in Nato’s exercise Anzam which defended Australia and New Zealand in a war with communist China. David Blunkett’s elision of history suggests that Harold Wilson’s government also took us into Vietnam (Yorkshire Post, March 28).

On the contrary; under pressure from those of us who considered American reaction to communism hysterical, Harold Wilson’s government kept us out of Vietnam.

Substitute “undemocratic” for “communist” and the same hysteria has us following America into places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

In the long term, our interventions will strengthen international Islam which is constitutionally undemocratic.