What Chris Whitty still gets wrong about the government’s response to Covid

Who runs the NHS

SIR – D M Ladhams (Letters, September 26) says “we need an NHS run by doctors”.

This is, however, exactly the current situation, with doctors restricting entry into the profession, striking for pay increases, limiting appointments and demanding a change in the law to improve their pensions.

Giving doctors more control will simply allow them to increase the amount of public funding they allocate to themselves.

Michael Holman
London N1

SIR – Since the mid-1980s, increasing numbers of doctors have been involved in the management of the NHS. Has anyone noted any improvement as a result?

Stuart Ingham
Leeds, West Yorkshire

SIR – At the age of 81, and with the words of Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary (“the NHS is broken”), in mind, it was with some trepidation that I attended my local urgent treatment centre on a recent Saturday morning. 

However, I received almost immediate professional attention, and was treated with great consideration over the next two hours. After a thorough examination it was decided that I should attend the main NHS hospital in Portsmouth that day.

There followed three days of outpatient tests, examinations and treatments, all performed with care and attention to detail. 

I came home reassured that the NHS I have appreciated throughout my life is still there. I have a scheduled appointment with a consultant to discuss further long-term treatment.

Mr Streeting should stop talking the NHS and its staff down. They need encouragement. 

Ian McIlwraith
Gosport, Hampshire