Sir John Dewar deserves more credit for his role in creation of the NHS

ROSEMARY Goring's excellent article on forgotten or ignored Scottish historical figures did not mention the man who probably did more to shape our modern society than any other ("Why history is a stitch up for the rich men", The Herald, August 20).

In 1912, Sir John Dewar was asked to chair a Treasury Commission to investigate medical and nursing attendance in the Highlands and islands of Scotland and make recommendations to improve the situation. The report was accepted in full and the world's first comprehensive health service was established in the Highlands and Islands. This proved so successful that the Cathcart Committee in 1936 recommended its adoption throughout Scotland and then the Beveridge Report used it as the blueprint for the National Health Service in 1948.

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