Strike-threat doctors will lose respect

MY cousin Elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her early 20s.

She was always extremely brave and positive. Despite several operations she lived her life to the full.

In 1975, when the doctors last went on strike, Elizabeth had an operation for secondary cancer in the neck. As no anaesthetist was available, she had a local anaesthetic.

She told me later that it was a devastating and horrific experience which made her far more frightened of future operations.

In the Hippocratic oath there is a clause, “Do no harm”.

This operations did great harm to my cousin’s peace of mind and well being. She died when she was only 35.

Perhaps naively, I used to believe that doctors and nurses had a genuine calling, a desire to help and care for people.

I would still like to think that some of them have. However, it seems that the majority feel that they should be exempt from paying an additional contribution to their pensions, despite their generous salaries.

It’s interesting that each group of people, who feel threatened by the Government’s cutbacks think they are a special case and, however intelligent, cannot face the fact that the money is not, and will not be, available to maintain our hitherto affluent lifestyle.

As in wartime, we will all be affected and obliged to tighten our belts.

When the doctors complain about having to work beyond the age of 60, they would do well to remember our Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh who are still serving their country, aged 86 and 91 respectively.

In fact, the Queen has vowed to serve us to the end of her life. That indeed is commitment, unselfish love and dedication – surely an example to us all.

If this strike does go ahead on June 21, there will be a loss of trust, respect and confidence in the medical profession which will not easily be restored.

Jubilee boost for everyone

From: Godfrey Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, Wressle, near Selby

I wondered how long it would be for bogus software-driven GCSE economics to raise its head over the Jubilee.

Economics is not about extrapolating numbers, that’s what got the country into the mess it is in, it is about human action.

The link between GDP and the public sector is, and always has been, almost entirely bogus. A clerical bureaucrat who did not work yesterday cost the country nothing because he creates nothing.

One might argue government bureaucrats impede wealth creation so the economy in the last few days spiked up.

The private sector worker, the creator of wealth, will make up his time in the coming months if indeed he or she had not worked up ahead to enjoy the parties.

The manufacturing base has already taken off in the line of celebratory production and not just at the bottom end of the market.

The anniversary also allowed us to put down a marker to the Commonwealth much beloved of Her Majesty and so betrayed by the dreadful Edward Heath in the 70s. She was right all along wasn’t she? That is where the real GDP and demographic growth is to be found.

Importantly, it gave a demonstration to the world of political stability, a faith in a constitutional monarchy beyond anyone’s imagination. No, this Jubilee has cost us nothing but enriched us all indeed.

Prophet’s forecast

From: Ruthven Urquhart, High Hunsley, Cottingham, East Yorkshire.

MOST reasonable people will surely offer much sympathy to all those hard-working Jubilee holiday- makers who had planned the extended weekend to enjoy these days either camping, caravanning at the seaside, or just experiencing our beautiful countryside.

Perhaps it is pertinent to remember the prediction of Mother Shipton, the old sage of Knaresborough, several hundred years ago.

“Save for the leaves on the trees, there will come a time when we will not know one season from another.”

PS: Does anyone wish to purchase our recently acquired and rarely used barbecue?

Roar power of Vulcans

From: Ralph H Howard, East Street, Lightcliffe, Halifax.

I WAS sorry to read of yet another disappointment for the team attempting to keep the last Vulcan Bomber in the air.

It brought back memories of the annual air display at what was then RAF Finningley.

With a brother-in-law stationed there, my wife, two youngsters and I visited right up to the station closing down.

It was a first-class family entertainment with aerial displays from late morning until early evening, with a host of static displays and exhibitions in the massive hangers.

Over a number of years the highlight of the day was, for many people, the landing and subsequent take off of Concorde, but for me it was the Vulcan Scramble.

In this event three (or was it four?) Vulcan Bombers took off in tandem with just seconds between each.

With relatively little fuel and armaments, after just a few more seconds in an almost vertical climb, they were gone.

Many people, however, missed the full impact of the display by covering their ears.

The abiding memory for me was the thunderous roar of those engines at the point of take-off – those were the days.