PERHAPS 50 years of underfunding, poor management and unrealistic expectations have led to us sending NHS patients to Germany for treatment.

An expert on the merits and drawbacks on various health care systems compares ours unfavourably to France, Germany and The Netherlands.

Part of the problem may be the "secrecy" surrounding "waiting lists" for potentially killer conditions. Also fed-up nurses leaving the NHS.

I read of a patient who, having been told that prostate cancer was a major killer of elderly men, was then surprised at having to wait over six months for a biopsy after showing symptoms.

We will never get to grips with NHS waiting times until the "system" is open and honest about what is going on.

The doctors and specialists know the score. So do the waiting patients. They should blow the whistle -- and let's have an NHS we can all be proud of.

Max Nottingham

St Faith's Street, Lincoln

(P.S. I would welcome the views of Evening News readers on this subject.)