Health Secretary Shona Robison's declaration that the status quo is "not an option" for the future of the NHS ("Robison to launch national conversation over future of NHS", The Herald, June 23) tallies with the recently-published joint statement from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland, which warns that change is needed if we are to put the NHS in Scotland on a sustainable footing.
Shona Robison's speech at the NHS Scotland event is also to "kick start" a national debate on the future of the NHS. And again, this chimes with the call in our joint statement for a genuine public debate. Without the public having their say and being listened to by politicians and those running our health service, the difficult decisions which need to be made will end the way of too many changes - gathering dust on a shelf.
Where we do take issue with the Health Secretary is her plan for the broad principles of reform to be agreed by autumn. Given the complex choices we face about the future of the NHS, the Scottish Government must allow enough time for a transparent public debate, based on genuinely informed discussion - and with the opportunity for passionate dissent. It mustn't be simply an exercise which seeks endorsement of pre-determined plans drawn up behind closed doors.
In our joint statement, we put forward a number of activities which we believe will have the greatest impact on the future sustainability of the NHS, including the need for a genuine public debate and new ways of delivering care. So, hopefully, the Health Secretary is not that far apart from the doctors, nurses and all other health professionals who work in the NHS. We have asked for a meeting with Shona Robison to discuss how, together, we can change our NHS - but this all must be based on the public having the time and the encouragement to have their say first.
Theresa Fyffe, Director, Royal College of Nursing Scotland,
42 South Oswald Street, Edinburgh.
It is of concern to read that, in the case of the mother who admitted killing her baby, she had been unable to access the services of a community psychiatric nurse because her baby was older than six months ("Probe after mother admits killing her baby daughter", The Herald, June 24).
We read almost daily about delays in accident and emergency departments and, referring to the situation at the new South Glasgow University Hospital, Health Secretary Shona Robison said it was "crucial that health boards continue to make progress towards meeting targets".
Are we too obsessed with targets and, as a result, do we fail at times to meet the real needs of patients? Does post-natal depression not exist after the child is six months old? I would think that, in some cases, unresolved post-natal depression could emerge several years later.
Ron Lavalette,
69 Whitlees Court, Ardrossan.
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