Letter: Health hazards

I was interested to read about the rise in diabetes rates with the "vast majority of cases" being caused by obesity and the general inability of "a fair proportion of the population" being "unable to help themselves" in this day of "high-density calorie and nice-tasting treats" (your report, 25 October).

The pressures that this over- indulgence places on the NHS has an effect on every one of us - be it the financial cost or the blocking of hospital beds. I received a communication from the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre asking me for three small stool samples for testing and this, as it is a screening system which might have a direct bearing on my health, I gladly did.

The communication also stated: "If you decide not to do the test you don't need to take any action. Your decision will not affect any health care you receive from your GP or hospital." Why not?

If someone ignores this free offer and subsequently develops bowel cancer then his/her unfortunate illness, which may have been prevented or caught early, will again be a cost to the rest of us, either the financial cost to the NHS or the blocking of hospital beds. The NHS (or rather we) simply cannot afford to continually provide a service to those who are not prepared to look after themselves.

I come from a generation which supports the NHS and am doing my very best to ensure it does not have to support me.

Alan McKinney

Beauchamp Road

Edinburgh