Health record

IN RESPONSE to Bill MacDonald (Letters, 25 June), I share his concerns about the future of the NHS in general and fully understand there are significant challenges ahead for the NHS in Scotland, as well as the rest of the UK.

Of course, with the running of the NHS being devolved to the Scottish Parliament, it is clear that as demands on the NHS continue to increase, the SNP, as the governing party in that parliament, must take responsibility for structural matters and day-to-day issues that arise here, including inadequate nursing provision and failures in meeting specified targets.

That said, Labour Party politicians, spin-doctors and activists, including Dr Scott Arthur (an engineer, not a medic) regularly express views that wilfully ignore Labour’s role in creating the current economic crisis in the UK, the budgetary implications with which both Westminster and Holyrood governments are strenuously wrestling.

Taking a broader perspective does not diminish the considerable difficulties we are facing across society but believing Labour can solve the complex problems confronting the NHS without creating further financial misery, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable, is not to learn the lessons of history.

Stan Grodynski

Longniddry, East Lothian