NHS crisis

The ever-increasing pressures on it cause problems at A&E and throughout the service.

Do these same people ever stop to think that the fault is not caused by creeping privatisation or lack of funds but themselves?

They turn to the NHS and their GPs for treatment for self-inflicted illnesses and ailments. Why should the NHS, and the rest of society, be forced to pay for their inability to take any basic care of themselves?

Problems such as obesity, over-consumption of alcohol, drugs of all kinds, lack of exercise, poor diet and smoking are, in the main, not the responsibility of the health service. They are lifestyles that are adopted and maintained despite the knowledge that they are detrimental to those who indulge in them.

The NHS was created to allow people access to health care, not to take the place of looking after oneself. It is not lack of funds that needs addressed but misuse of the facility by some to the detriment of all.

Until people take responsibility for their own actions and their own health what hope is there. Is this a by-product of this nanny state that is being created around us?

It may well be that thinking for oneself is being delegated to the government to do on our behalf. What does this say about Scotland and also the UK?

Too many of our so-called problems start at home and should be sorted out there and not by legislation, but our politicians are too scared to acknowledge this.

Ian Ross

Eden Lane

Edinburgh

I refer to your headline (9 April) about GP appointments. The crisis is far worse than you report. Morale is so low with GPs that they are leaving in their droves.

Recruitment of GPs to vacant posts is so dire that patients face the real prospect that very soon they will seek help from a GP in their local practice and there will be none.

This is likely to happen within the next few months rather than years. Politicians are ignoring this crisis and need to face up to the disaster that is waiting to happen.

They will certainly need to improve A&E waiting times because that will be the only medical care available to many people.

(Dr) Johnstone Shaw

Argyle Crescent

Edinburgh