There is no correlation between A&E waiting times and the EU

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The Leave campaign have claimed that the NHS waiting times are directly linked to the EU (AFP/Getty)

I watched the Leave advert and noted it made a correlation between A&E waiting times and EU membership.

I was working in A&E (casualty, as it was) as a staff nurse, before our EU membership. There were long queues waiting to be seen and problems with admitting patients onto wards. There were ambulances waiting to off load their patients. Beds were blocked so there was nowhere to admit patients.

A GP who worked in the Unit and was an Economist wrote an article in which he discussed the black hole that is the NHS. It will never breakeven, never make a “profit” – except indirectly by benefitting the community, businesses and the health of future humans.

To improve waiting times you increase the number of GPs. To clear bed blocking, you have a seamless process of community nurses, both registered nurses and healthcare assistants, with more than 10 minutes to give them. You have both rest homes and nursing homes that are directly linked to hospitals.

We had some of this before various governments got involved.

You also need to insure that hospitals don't try to achieve 98 per cent bed occupancy. France has 82 per cent bed occupancy and more hospitals per capita.

It is farcical to believe that if we leave, the money we “save” will go into the NHS. The same politicians who have presided over the running down of our NHS are Brexiteers. Politicians only think in four-year cycles, and there needs 20-year cycle thought processes and commitment.

The Department of Health needs experienced long time civil servants, not chop and change revolving door personnel.

Sue Adams
Hastings

The most incompetently drafted Act ever passed

Section 2 of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 says: “Psychoactive substance means any substance which is capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it and is not exempted under Section 3”. This produces a 'blanket ban' in what is called a “precautionary” manner, a notoriously crude device.

This means that everything which affects the nervous system in any way, or by any means, is now illegal, resulting in a conviction of up to seven years in prison.

Exempted substances are listed and include: substances already illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act; tobacco; alcohol; food; drink; caffeine; and, substances used for some research.

A crime is committed if the substance is intentionally produced or supplied for human consumption. There is no offence for possession or use.

The central nervous system and brain are psychoactive organs that are controlled and control exclusively by psychoactive means. Humans operate only by psycho activity.

Absurdly, it could be ruled that nitrous oxide, which is always “produced” copiously when a cowpat hits the ground, imperils all cattle farmer with imprisonment for seven years. Petrol is psychoactive, so are household solvents and thousands upon thousands of commonly consumed products.

The words “substance” and “consumed” are not defined by the Act, but it is made clear that consumption can actually be achieved by breathing. Must we now avoid deep breaths by the seaside lest we inhale ozone?

The Act is as farcical as it is oppressive and useless.

Apart from the statutory, governmentally appointed Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that advises HMG on the science of these matters, almost every qualified scientist has derided this bad Act. I hope that if anyone is convicted that it will fail at the first appeal.

Mick Humphreys
Taunton

Scotland is thriving

I noted with interest that according to the latest Ernst & Young Attractiveness Survey Scotland secured 119 foreign direct investment projects in 2015. This amounted to a 51 per cent increase on the previous year and compares with 20 per cent for the UK as a whole.

Indeed, Scotland has overtaken the south-east of England as a destination for foreign investment and only London beats us.

I am surprised by this as we are constantly being told by those opposing another independence referendum that such uncertainty is having an impact on investment.

This clearly is not borne out by the facts, and dare I say it those looking to invest in Scotland are more interested in our infrastructure and quality of the workforce than our constitutional arrangements.

Indeed in 2014, the year of the independence referendum, a record level of investment was also recorded. This clearly puts pay to one of the key foundations of the 'Project Fear' campaign at the time, that uncertainty caused by the referendum was hindering investment. Quite the reverse in fact proved to be the case.

The independence referendum played its part in bringing the world’s media to Scotland. This is the so-called “halo effect”, creating a positive impression of the country and putting the doom-mongers firmly in their place.

Alex Orr
Edinburgh

David Cameron inadvertently supports Brexit

At last some good news from the Prime Minister. The pound will fall 15 per cent if we leave the EU, making exports cheaper and imports dearer which will in turn help improve our disastrous balance of trade deficit. It will also create many thousands of jobs as demand for our cheaper goods and services will dramatically increase. Also interest rates will rise which will be good for savers. I hadn't realised that Mr Cameron had joined the Brexit team, at last he has seen the light.

Barrie Middleton
Matlock

Throwing his toys out of the pram

For Jacob Rees-Mogg to demand the dismissal of Mark Carney as Governor of the Bank of England is equivalent to him telling his parents to sack his nanny for giving him nasty medicine.

Mind you, he probably did.

Brian Mathieson
Plymouth