'Without these workers, our NHS would collapse'
I AM thoroughly disheartened by reports in the news of a rise in racism directed at NHS staff.
Really? What does that say about our culture in this country? Have we learnt nothing?
I have been a patient in York hospital for nearly a month now, and I have been cared for by staff from India, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mauritius and elsewhere.
Without exception, they are caring, hardworking professionals working long hours and taking pride in their work.
Many of them face long commutes to work because they can't afford to live in York on their salaries. Without them the NHS would collapse.
We are lucky to have them, and they really don't deserve such pig-ignorant bigotry in this day and age.
It makes be ashamed of our country.
Surely we're better than that?
David Newman,
Dalmally Close,
York
Why we can't tow migrants in dinghies back to France
PETER Rickaby (Press letters, August 5) thinks that using the Royal Navy to tow back to France dinghies approaching our shores is a sensible idea.
Under international maritime law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), states are required to assist individuals in distress at sea.
However, any action to return these individuals to another country, such as France, requires that country's consent.
The UK cannot unilaterally tow migrant boats back to France without explicit permission from French authorities.
Also, maritime law experts have confirmed that returning migrants to French shores without prior agreement is not permissible.
Dave Platt,
Keepers Way,
Dunnington,
York
Recommended reading:
On defence
WILL PM Burnham be on the fence on defence? Regarding all that talk about defence spending as a percentage of GDP, it’s beginning to look as if the file’s been, er, filed away.
Meanwhile Trump is distracted by his ludicrous Gulf adventure.
Is the real reason for his erratic on/off assault on Iran so as to give breathing spaces for the production of more ordnance for the US forces as they keep running out?
The UK is reputedly good at drones, such a feature of modern mayhem.
I suspect we’re nowhere nearly as good in the vastly more expensive realm of hypersonic rockets.
Anyway, with regard to defence expenditure it’s not so much the amount that counts as the targets of these billions. Is the taxpayer paying for the right projects and assets?
There’s the crunch! Over recent decades GB’s record in this respect has been at best patchy.
White elephants and red herrings abound with vast sums squandered.
Think military version of HS2. “Psst, Guv, interest you in sixty thousand tons of scrap metal going cheap? Discount if you’ll take both off our hands.”
Have you noticed how 60 or so years ago our Secretary of State for Defence was a politician called Healey? Until a few months ago, occupying this position was someone with the same surname!
Then moving on about a decade to 50 years ago the same surname crops up as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
That name Healey again appears very recently as the occupant of No. 11!
Presumably Denis and John Healey are unrelated or am I on to something?!
Let’s see how they compare.
Derek Reed,
Middlethorpe Drive,
York
What do you think?
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