So much fuss at a bit of snow

WHY do we have all this fuss over a bit of wintry weather? We have had a cold day or two and a dusting of snow on high ground with some inconvenience and a lot of panic.

People who live in these islands know there is a chance of cold and snow during the winter months and should be prepared for such and accept it as a part of life, or move to a warmer climate.

After all, apart from the last two years, we have had a series of mild winters, nothing to compare with the regular bad winters I knew as a child, when the farm lane was often blocked for long periods, particularly during the big snow of 1947 and 1963.

Medical records must be private

From: George Appleby, Leighton Croft, York.

I AM totally against the private sector being given access to our personal NHS medical records to make them even richer at the expense of the nation’s health.

The nation’s health, like education and national security, should be the exclusive responsibility of the state, not to be sold off for profit.

I am totally for the private sector giving to the NHS. They already have guaranteed rich pickings from the uncompetitive prices they charge the NHS for equipment, supplies, services and drugs. In addition, desperately needed new NHS hospitals and buildings are now being funded by them, on lavish, inflation-protected agreements our children’s children will have to pay for. Responsibility to the nation should now come before world bankers.

Out of sight...

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

I WAS pleased to read Christian Guy (Yorkshire Post, December 5) say that “the political debate about older people has become obsessed with money”. He is right to highlight the real issues that can affect that age group – severe loneliness, social isolation and neglect. Sadly, so far as politicians are concerned, it does seem a case of “out of sight, out of mind”.