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Tuesday 13 May 2008

Letters

Spectator readers respond to recent articles.

Key question

Sir: Debt, debt everywhere. Britain really is in trouble if — as Fraser Nelson suggests (Politics, 15 March) — the Conservative opposition is shying away from the ‘obvious strategy’ of proposing to freeze public spending or cut taxes.

There is a sensible ‘bottom up’ approach for our leaders to take, namely to start budgeting from a base of zero expenditure. Then prioritise and add the spending that really must be made (schools, hospitals, defence and the like), while checking value for money at every step. The key question is, ‘What is essential for Britain?’ rather than, ‘What is in the current budget?’ or ‘What did Gordon promise on the Andrew Marr Show?’ At the end of the cull there will remain the optional extras, dodgy PFI schemes and political pork, whose costs can then be phased, reduced or — hopefully — cut completely. Cue a more balanced budget.

The Blair, Brown, Darling refrain that all public expenditure is inherently good has prevailed for too long and is now ruining this country. The Conservatives need to adopt a more rigorous approach to justify their spending plans. So do the Lib Dems. So does Labour, but fat chance of that happening.

Tim Holman
St Albans, Hertfordshire

Simple remedy

Sir: I am glad Craig Goldsack, chairman of the Department of Anaesthesia, University College Hospital, has such faith in the complaints system of the Healthcare Commission (Letters, 15 March). Those of us who have had cause to complain would cheer Lord Mancroft and Taki to the echo.

I complained to the Commission about the care of a close relative and received a letter with condolences on the death of my loved one (who was still — thankfully — very much alive.) It took 12 months for the Commission to review the complaint, which seems an inordinate amount of time given the review of my complaint was a desk review — no visits, no interviews, no opportunity for me to comment on the response of the staff of the Trust about whom I had complained.

Sorry Mr Goldsack — we need the help of people like Taki and Lord Mancroft to speak up for those who get poor care and treatment from the NHS. Certainly in my profession as a vicar I come across many people who have had excellent care, but when the system fails, and fails badly, someone needs to take note. Frequently, the remedy is simple, and is about staff attitude and care rather than costly resource issues.

Revd Peter C. Bellenes
Marldon, Devon

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