YOU may remember when Health Secretary Jeane Freeman did not allow Lothian Health Board to open the new Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh. Oversight of the construction and commissioning of that hospital is, and remains, the responsibility of Lothian Health Board. Now there are reports that Greater Glasgow Health Board were told that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow had serious issues prior to its opening. In both cases it has been made into a political football with both Labour and Tories trying to blame the SNP Government for the failings and omissions of the health boards.
In both instances prompt action has been taken by the Cabinet Secretary for Health. One hospital was not allowed to be opened and in the other, Greater Glasgow Health has been put into “special measures” and an inquiry has been launched. Let us be glad that we do have a robust and decisive person in the Scottish Government rather than trying to score cheap political points.
DS Blackwood, Helensburgh.
THE reported happenings at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital ("Water safety warnings in week flagship hospital opened", The Herald, November 29) cannot pass without comment. Considering there was an existing sewage works adjacent, why was this site chosen? Perhaps because of the existing Southern General, albeit that long-serving inaccessible health provision was no longer fit for purpose.
Regardless, the high-rise option was taken, doubtless based on cost and not client interest.
The new par-excellence centre should have nestled in a new accessible environment with ample parking and certainly free of noxious odours.
Allan C Steele, Giffnock.
Banking answer
THE TSB is to close 82 branches UK wide, 17 of which are in Scotland ("TSB slated as 17 closures revealed", The Herald, November 29). Many of the Scottish branches are in small towns that may leave the town without a bank. Is it not time the banks co-operated and perhaps open a "multi-bank" branch in places that are being left without a bank?
Already you are able to carry out limited banking at Post Offices but they too are closing. A bank that has access to all the major banks would be an asset to the population as a whole and might go some way to restoring our faith in the banking industry. They would show alll the offers available in the various banks and may then shake up the industry. Maybe too much to hope for.
Steve Barnet, Gargunnock.
W, Aaargh
IN The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon (Sei, having been lady-in-waiting to the Empress Consort Teishi in 10th century Japan) we read of the things she likes, adores, is depressed by or even hates. Following on from the several letters of complaint about poor grammar that have appeared in The Herald recently (Letters, November 28 & 29) I would add a thing that appears in my own mental 'Pillow Book'.
In the list of "things detested", is the mispronunciation of the letter W as an R; thus we hear of droring-rooms and lor n'order. Also in that list is the glottal stop. I am quite often advised that languages undergo mutation; but I rather consider it to be mutilation.
Thelma Edwards, Kelso.
Healthy rations
WITH Mark Smith chewin’ the fat over the angst of restaurateurs and home-grown providers of nosh over the various demands of some professed veggie adherents, others with dislikes elevated to intolerances or unconfirmed allergies, or just plain picky eaters, ("Restaurants are rebelling against picky eaters. Good", The Herald, November 290 ), I am grateful for the simple comforting “take it or leave it” domestic culinary delights of the 1940s and character-forming wartime rationing, which made me the man I am today; although my resident domestic goddess has diagnosed certain intolerances unrelated to diet.
R Russell Smith, Kilbirnie.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel