Letters: NHS health will improve by shedding sicknote culture

Well done Alan Boyter for bringing in a hard-line approach to those in the NHS Lothian who have had multiple sickness absences (News, May 18).

I'm sure the majority of the employees, just like in most fields, are genuine people who want to earn a living by putting in a decent effort.

However, for too long now the public sector has been a refuge for skivers who have come to see "sickies" as a right.

This culture was allowed to exist in years gone by when people taking public sector jobs did so on the understanding that the salary tended to be lower than in the private sector, but you got an easier life.

Since the economic downturn, however, private sector workers have had to accept pay freezes and cuts while their counterparts in the public sector have had a secure future to look forward to thanks to excellent pensions.

These are tough times we are going through, and it's quite right that people who are not prepared to pull their weight are shown the door.

Norman Wilson, Paisley Avenue, Edinburgh

Save economy, not polar bears

ENERGY Secretary Chris Huhne has just committed the UK to a 50 per cent cut in CO2 emissions from the 1990 level by 2025.

This is the highest in the world. 500 will be added to household energy bills every year. Our manufacturing industries will suffer as exports become uncompetitive.

The Civitas think-tank says Mr Huhne's plans would mean that the UK would have the highest energy costs in the world and send turnover worth 60 billion and 600,000 jobs "up in smoke".

Dr Benny Peiser of the Global Warming Policy Foundation says the UK's actions would have negligible impact on climate change since emissions are increasing worldwide.

The Climate Change Act 2008 costs 18 billion a year and is driven by mumbo jumbo that takes no account that other nations are only paying lip service to emission levels.

Britain only has two per cent of global emissions yet our politicians strut the world stage as green evangelists.

They need to pay more attention to our economy and less pretending to save the planet and several polar bears.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow

That's the wrong flag you're flying

YOU'VE got to admire the chutzpah of Steve Cardownie celebrating the announcement that the Olympic Torch will come to Edinburgh with a bit of flag flying on Calton Hill (News, May19).

Steve and the SNP might think they rule the world now that the elections are over and that a Saltire is appropriate for the Olympics, but I would remind him that it is a British Olympic Team he will have to cheer on at London 2012.And perhaps he might reflect that if we were separated from the United Kingdom as he wants, the Olympic Torch would never be coming here in the first place.

Iain Whyte, Conservative Councillor for Inverleith

Bring more help on board buses

AT Guide Dogs, we're delighted Edinburgh City Council has backed our Talking Buses campaign (News, May 9).

Public transport plays a vital role in helping many groups of disabled people become more independent.

A major issue deterring the two million blind and partially sighted people in Britain from using buses is the lack of information on board, for example helping them to identify their stop. Audible and visual announcements (AV) would solve this and help the one million visitors to Edinburgh each year find their way around.

An AV system for a bus can be extremely inexpensive. Bus drivers can announce the next stop using existing on-board microphones (Audio), and hold up simple signs (Visual) when the bus arrives at a stop.

If larger bus operators, such as Lothian, want to implement an automated system, the cost is as little as one per cent of the cost of the bus.

James White, Campaigns Officer, Guide Dogs