RE Ian Johnstone’s letter (January 27), detailing the DVLA’s withdrawal of his driving licence, my wife also received a letter in September 2019, informing her that due to a similar medical examination her licence was withdrawn immediately. Whilst not wishing to judge the validity or otherwise of the ultimate decision to withdraw her licence, we were both shocked at the curt and impersonal tone of the letter she received informing her of the decision.
The opening sentence read: “Important: you must not drive”, then continued to detail the medical reasons and method, if desired, to appeal the decision, all in extremely formal writing. Our reaction to the letter, after digesting the repercussions of such a decision, was that the manner in which the news was transmitted could surely have been handled in a much more sensitive way.
After all, the decision to withdraw a person’s driving licence after so many years, particularly when it is not the recipient’s fault, can be a catastrophic result for a person. My plea is that in an ideal world, someone representing such official departments could analyse just how such decisions are transmitted to a person, and consider that the letter could at least have a small measure of humanity and sensitivity in the letter.
CTJ Warbrick, Dumbarton.
Late call for carers
I HAVE written several times to you regarding various issues relating to the quality of care and quality of life facing people over 65 years of age and especially the disabled.
My wife, who suffers from MS, and I have tickets for a Celtic Connection concert and are trying to arrange specific cover so that we can attend the concert.
At present the carers put her to bed at 10pm. Clearly this is not suitable as the concert is unlikely to finish at or around 10pm.
This means that either we need to leave the concert early, or try to arrange for specific cover for around 10.30/11pm.
This is proving problematic as the carers finish at 10pm.
My point is that our quality of life is reduced and deters us from going out as it is such a hassle. It's like being treated like when we were teenagers and had to be home by a certain time.
I grew up with the music and era of the Rolling Stones and et al and somehow they can put on a concert beyond 10pm, but alas for this old rocker I need to be tucked up in bed with my Horlicks. C'est la vie?
Tom Lucas, Glasgow G69.
Council benchmarks
LORNE Jackson (Herald Diary, January 28) has misinterpreted the situation regarding the two benches placed one behind the other.
It is simple council practice, where the bench providers failed to liaise with the bench removers due to a Jobsworth in the council deciding it was not their job to programme the work in a sensible manner and put the cart in front of the horse ,so to speak
Any sensible private business would have the same team do all jobs but I can see at least eight council departments needed for this job: dig holes, lay concrete, build bench, erect bench, dismantle old bench, remove base, landscape area, and supervise each job.
Dougie Jardine, Bishopbriggs.
Border crossings
STATISTICS will almost certainly prove that since the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol in Scotland the consumption percentage in Carlisle has shot up ("Minimum pricing sees Scots buying less drink", The Herald, January 28).
Arthur Robinson, Lockerbie.
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