I FIND it appalling to read in the Press about the lack of hospital staff and beds. The lack of staff is not just down to low pay but also low morale.

The lack of spending in the health service has been going on for many years. Not just by this Government but the previous one also. Reducing everybody's national health contributions seems like a very good idea, especially at election times. But would it not be better to pay a few pence more to again give us a health service that is once again the best in the world? It is, therefore, essential that we encourage young people to join the medical profession, and give the existing staff more money.

This would be better in two ways - firstly it would create jobs for young people and give them the experience of being part of a team, and also save us having to recruit abroad. None of us want to have to go into hospital, but if we do have to go in, do we really want to wait months or lie in corridors for hours?

I have been in Bolton Hospital, and think that the staff are fantastic, so let's give them a boost by providing more staff and better salaries. But this can only be done by paying more money in. Most people would not even notice if they paid a few extra pence a week, but it could make a tremendous difference to our health service.

S M Rock

Ainsworth Avenue, Horwich

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