HEALTH Secretary Shona Robison reports "the highest NHS staffing levels ever" ("Crisis looms in NHS as surgeries fail to attract enough trainee doctors", The Herald, June 30).

However, this assertion lacks substance without a breakdown of numbers of full-time versus part-time staff. Thus an increase in total number employed coupled to a relatively greater increase in part-timers would mean a net reduction in available staff.

Ms Robison's ability to cope and probity are in doubt. "The cruellest lies are often told in silence", attributed to Robert Louis Stevenson.

Dr William Durward.

20 South Erskine Park,

Bearsden.