Judgment on NHS review welcomed

The judgment by the Court of Appeal regarding the NHS review of children’s heart services is to be welcomed as it brings vital changes to services for children with congenital heart disease a step closer.

Parent groups and professional associations have long called for changes to be made and this legal ruling means the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) can now consider the evidence available before making a decision at a meeting in public on July 4.

There was extensive interest in the public consultation from people in Yorkshire & Humberside and I welcome the Court of Appeal’s verdict as it will allow these views to be considered.

As well as responses to the public consultation there were petitions and a number of comments submitted on the independent report into family travel patterns.

We will also consider additional evidence and, with an open mind, the JCPCT will give careful consideration to other proposals submitted during consultation, including further options which include Leeds General Infirmary.

Making decisions is never easy, but change is necessary to ensure that children with congenital heart disease receive the best possible care.

From Allan Ramsay, Radcliffe Moor Road, Radcliffe.

Why are NHS waiting times and poor care of the elderly on the increase?

Overload, is it not? Unhealthy lifestyles like overeating and smoking can’t help. Most certainly alcohol abuse doesn’t, for it’s a triple whammy – violence, kidney disease, and road casualties.

Police reports show one in three drivers breathalysed in the morning are over the limit: “round-the-clock” licensing laws and “bargain-booze” at home being blamed. In 2010 there were 250 drink-drive related deaths and nearly 100,000 injuries.

Cripples the NHS does it not? And with sickness benefit, the taxpayer too! How many injuries would be fatal if not for crumple-zones and air-bags? Without such effective crash protection (only polystyrene at best) what chance cycling to work? Linked to more people taking up cycling, due to increased petrol prices, cyclist casualties are also on the up. Drivers over the limit?

Government austerity measures which drive people into poverty are bad, but “driving” them to an early grave is unforgiveable, and must be addressed!

With everything from water to healthcare costing more, why aren’t driving offences costing more? Where’s the logic, and indeed the fairness, when potential killer drivers (as in speed and texting at the wheel) only attract £60 fines, while ignoring a hosepipe ban (hardly a killer) attracts a £1,000 fine, and “alcohol abuse” on the street attracts £500 fines?

With petrol prices so high how can so many drivers afford to “Carry on Speeding” (and polluting)? Not a joke! Where’s the deterrent?

With the Chancellor claiming taxes are fair, and no limit to what a person can earn, why should there be a limit on what a law-breaking driver (potential killer) can be fined? Haven’t we reached a time – rich getting richer, while poor get poorer (and more vulnerable) – where income-related fines are (morally) justified?

Let us have an elected mayor

From: Edwin Schirn, Ilkley.

Steve Wilson’s article on April 10 described the mess in Bradford’s local government – but his conclusion was to do nothing about it. On that, he is wrong. Also, there is the chance of a direct line between West Yorkshire and 10 Downing Street on offer. The voters in the Bradford West byelection have shown that all three Bradford Labour, Conservative, and Liberal-Democrat parties can be voted out.

They have shown that on May 3 we can vote “Yes” in the referendum for an elected executive Mayor for Bradford District – and this time the vote cannot be brushed aside by the politicians in City Hall.

This time there will be a Mayor; and the Prime Minister has “revealed plans to host regular meetings of directly-elected city mayors“ (Yorkshire Post, March 28). Bradford must not lose out on this offer. In fact the three West Yorkshire cities of Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield must not lose out on this offer. Elected mayors will have a direct line to where it really matters.

Limit quantity in drink sales

From Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

Those who drink cheap wine or beer aren’t necessarily problem drinkers, simply people who have a limited budget. It should also be noted that the cheapest alcohol sold outside bars is always the weakest, with a strength sometimes half that of pub measures.

Problem drinkers are however those who consume to excess, whether on champagne at £40 or more a bottle or Lambrusco at a fraction of this cost. So rather than introduce minimum unit pricing (Yorkshire Post, April 18) it would make more sense to clamp down on bulk purchases, rather than allowing supermarkets to have two for one type promotions. Personally I’d like to see an end to supermarkets selling alcohol, and a return to the days when sales were just made in pubs and off-licences. And a reduction in drinking hours wouldn’t go amiss either.

If Cameron had courage...

From: George Appleby, Leighton Croft, Clifton, York.

David Cameron has the ability, drive and belief in himself to be the greatest Prime Minister ever if only he had the courage. He could unite the whole nation behind him, apart from the grasping one per cent, if he came down hard against them and made them play their full responsible part in financing the life of the nation for everybody in it. In addition, he could make tax evasion a major crime against the nation with prison penalties, then build up the NHS again as to what it was and was always intended to be, the national source of health and happiness to harness the ambitions and achievements of all its people.

And put back the Great in Britain.