Failure needs no compensation

IF former Haringey children services chief Sharon Shoesmith had been a coach driver and her actions, or in-actions, had caused the death of any of her passengers through negligence, she would have been sacked on the spot, and most probably faced a heavy prison sentence.

What is the difference between her causing the death of children directly under her management and that of a coach driver? Shoesmith was in charge. The responsibility was hers, for which she was paid accordingly.

Her failure to do her job properly led to a child’s death in the case of Baby P and her “instant” dismissal which was correct. She should not be compensated for being sacked for failure.

NHS threat

From: Allan Davies, Heathfield Court, Grimsby.

LES Arnott’s letter (Yorkshire Post, May 23) uses all the standard pejoratives to denigrate the NHS – top heavy, expensive, bureaucratic.

The first, and most obvious fact is the long-term under-funding of the service.

The Wanless Report (circa 2002) referred to 25 years of under-investment in new hospitals and doctors’ premises and on the refurbishment of existing buildings.

If the present proposals are enacted and the NHS is privatised, I can only envisage a major deterioration in the service.

Non-issue

From: Michael Swaby, Hainton Avenue, Grimsby.

D WOOD seeks to refute my contention that eurosceptics ignored Nick Clegg’s call for an “in or out” referendum, by reminding us that they preferred to campaign against the proposed Lisbon Treaty (Yorkshire Post, May 30).

Quite so. It slightly strengthens the EU institutionally, while having no effect whatsoever on people’s everyday lives.

It is a classic non-issue, and I remain mystified as to why eurosceptics would march so enthusiastically into such an obvious political cul-de-sac.