Why should Michelle Mone be stripped of her peerage because of her business activities (“Michelle Mone-linked PPE Medpro ordered to repay over £100m”, The Herald, October 2)?
Is it because her conduct would be regarded as perfectly acceptable among the rest of us, who have not been elevated to the nobility?
I suspect that skeletons in the cupboards of the nobility are at least as, or probably more, numerous than in the cupboards of the common herd.
Will Ms Mone be the first of many to be identified as having exploited the PPE market during the pandemic, or have her Glasgow working-class roots made her a convenient scapegoat to deflect attention from other beneficiaries in the higher echelons of society?
Willie Maclean, Milngavie.
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Drug death numbers do add up
It has been a constant bugbear of Scottish nationalists that Scotland’s appalling drug death figures, which have risen disastrously on the SNP’s watch, are about 2.8 times those of England.
Separatists routinely complain that such deaths are counted differently in England, and are therefore underestimated to show Scotland in a bad light.
Pete Wishart, SNP MP, thinks he has found a smoking gun in a new study from King’s College London, claiming it proves that thousands of drug deaths in England are simply written out of the figures.
Mr Wishart has, alas, misinterpreted the results of this study.
The Ferret Fact Service (FFS) has analysed the report, and its findings show that ‘the statistics on the total number of drug-related deaths in England are not in question, but new research has shown undercounting in the proportion of deaths that were related to opioid use’.
The research concludes, the ‘total number of drug deaths in England is unaffected by this research’.
Jill Stephenson, Glenlockhart Valley.
NHS criticism drowned out by bureaucracy
I was deeply concerned to read your article about NHS Dumfries & Galloway being accused of “not acknowledging” maternity safety concerns (“Maternity services safety fears ‘ignored’ by boards”, The Herald, October 1).
The allegations that pregnant mothers’ safety worries have not been properly addressed by the health board highlight a distressing trend in our healthcare system.
A trend that indicates a serious breakdown in communication and accountability.
The unsatisfactory response to safety issues is reflective of a worrying pattern within NHS governance across Scotland, where the voices of patients seem to be drowned out by bureaucracy.
When mothers express valid concerns regarding their safety and that of their babies, it is essential that the healthcare system listens attentively and responds decisively.
Unfortunately, the claims made by campaigners suggest that this is allegedly far from the reality in Dumfries & Galloway.
As we witness an ongoing struggle with resource allocation within our National Health Service, it becomes increasingly crucial to advocate for a model that prioritises local accountability.
The government needs to decentralise power further, empowering local healthcare providers to respond more effectively to community needs.
This requires an urgent reassessment of the decision-making structures that currently govern our health services.
Furthermore, stronger collaboration between healthcare providers and local communities can bridge the gap that seems to have widened over the years. Engaging with mothers and families will not only lead to improved safety standards but also foster trust in the health system, which is crucial for a successful healthcare framework.
“Health is a relationship between you and your body,” as Aristotle said.
It is vital that healthcare providers acknowledge and value the relationship they have with their patients, ensuring it is built on trust and mutual respect.
When patients feel unheard, it has repercussions not only for individual wellbeing but also for community health as a whole.
In conclusion, it is clear that NHS Dumfries & Galloway, like many others, must recommit to putting patient safety first.
A culture of transparency, responsiveness, and patient engagement needs instilling within our health service if we aspire to meet the needs of families effectively.
Let this be a turning point where we stand up for the most vulnerable members of our society and ensure that their voices are not just heard but acted upon.
Alastair Majury, Dunblane, Perthshire.
Boat safety question
Having been involved in a serious sailing incident many years ago when crossing from Brodick to Ardrossan on the Caledonia ferry, I always find myself looking at the provision of easily accessible lifeboats.
Recently I studied the photo of a CalMac ferry that was pictured in the October 1 edition of The Herald.
I am no naval architect, but all I could spot was a single lifeboat at the stern area, on the port side, with presumably another matching one on the starboard side.
Lloyd’s of London, or which ever insurance company is used, will have ensured that all vessels have adequate emergency provision for passengers and crew.
But I’m left wondering, where, and what, is it on the ferry pictured?
Alan Fitzpatrick, Dunlop, Ayrshire.
Sign of the times
On Switchback Road, Bearsden, there is now a change of speed restriction from 40mph to 20 going north, and 20 to 40 going south.
I notice that there is no sign in either direction to indicate where this change starts, although there are small repeater signs further along.
This failure to alert us is confusing.
I’ve looked hard and don’t know where I should start going slower.
It will surely not prevent the authorities from issuing speeding fines, but could some lawyer tell us: will they be illegal in doing so?
(Rev) C. Peter White, Torrance, Glasgow.
Everything’s up in the air when passing through airport
My wife and I flew into Edinburgh Airport on Tuesday from Croatia.
On disembarking, we were met by a long, snaking queue, extending well outwith the terminal building.
Inside it was chaotic, with slow, slow progress at Passport Control.
At the facial-recognition section, we were advised that: "One of the units is misbehaving today."
This led to a number of passengers failing to make it through the unit in question and they were referred to manual booths.
Of eight booths, only three were manned. How can Scotland's busiest airport not gear-up to known volumes of passenger numbers?
Derek B. Petrie, Milngavie.
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