'Nightingale hospitals needed to rescue NHS' - Your Letters: January 14

URGENT ACTION TO RESCUE THE NHS

The same "get up and go" attitude that planned, created, staffed and opened the Nightingale hospitals during the Covid pandemic is now needed to rescue the NHS, if our political masters can tear themselves away from scoring points over the child abuse scandal that has had a full inquiry.

Sometimes simple facts require simple solutions. Japan has 13 hospital beds per 1,000 of its population, the UK has 2.5 and sits 42nd out of the world's countries. Short term recreate the Nightingale hospitals to take patients who have finished their medical treatment, but need looking after before return home, and staff it with Red Cross volunteers. Long term build permanent non-medical facilities as close to medical hospitals as possible to stop bed blocking.

If the Reform Party wants to make an impact in the local elections in May 2025, as well as its stance on illegal immigration it should be bold and honest with the electorate and say that it would raise taxes across the whole population to fund a NHS that is fit to serve nearly 70 million people.

Peter Steggles, Rushbury