Letters: Doctors shouldn’t need dementia pay incentive

I have just read that doctors are to be paid £55 for each patient they diagnose with dementia.

It has also leaked out that they are already being paid for diagnosing diabetes.

What does this say about our medical care? Does this sort of thing not encourage corruption - you have to ask yourself what else are they getting paid extra for.

Is the fact that they are already being paid well for being GPs not enough? Is this part of the reason that people can’t get appointments at their surgeries? Is this the reason so many people with serious illness like cancer are being diagnosed too late to be cured or have a better quality of life?

I think it is disgraceful and there should be a commission set up to see if there is any abuse of this system, then the system of extra payments should be stopped.

Doctors should be doing what they have been trained for and are already getting paid for. If they are not happy with that, they should find another occupation.

Raymond Ross, Hutchison Avenue, Edinburgh

Electorate has already said ‘No’, Nicola

The SNP’s definition of ‘democracy’ must come from a different dictionary than most people use.

My dictionary states ‘a system of government based on the principle of majority decision-making’.

The referendum vote was a clear majority against independence. Now, however, the Scottish people are being threatened by Nicola Sturgeon with another referendum, post the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.

Well at least the 55% who voted no have a clear choice as to who they vote for in 2016, since many of them were clearly from SNP-held MSP constituencies.

Perhaps someone from the SNP would like to give their definition of exactly what democracy means to them?

Name and address supplied

Please give a thought to elderly in winter

Darker evenings and changing of the clocks act as timely reminders to consider older people in our communities.

Many of us will go into a self-enforced hibernation at this time of year - drawing the curtains, getting cosy and watching TV with loved ones. But what about those who live alone? Loneliness is far more acute in winter time and it is imperative that efforts are made to help older people through this period.

We cannot forget our duties to care for those who need our help simply because it’s far more inviting to stay indoors. Here at Contact the Elderly, we understand how far a little effort can go in supporting older people through these difficult months.

Older people will often have additional support needs in winter. Those who are more mobile and can ordinarily walk or catch a bus may be unable to do so as bad weather hits. There is an increased chance of illnesses, particularly flu, and long periods of darkness can have a negative impact on happiness and wellbeing.

Our monthly tea parties in Edinburgh offer a social lifeline to older people. That few hours out of the house on a Sunday afternoon make such a difference to our guests – even more so in winter when we are all getting out less often.

Valerie Crookston, Scotland Executive Officer, Contact the Elderly

Services should be run for public not profit

IN the main, the wealth of the nation is represented by the amount of products made by the people of the UK.

After paying wages, etc, the remainder is for the owner as profit. It follows that the owners aim to get as much produced for as little as possible, while the workers aim to get better wages, conditions and security.

Given the fantastic profits being made by many industries and the disgraceful salaries and bonuses being handed to top management, it shows the distribution of wealth is very one-sided. The interest of the owners and management are helped by having supporters in top political positions.

If the position was reversed and workers had the overwhelming support of their political representatives, it would be a fair and just situation, in that the interest of the majority take precedence over the very few.

These interests would go beyond asking the employer for a few extra pounds in wages that in a very short time is swallowed up in rising prices.

Interests common to all are gas, electricity, water supplies, bus, rail and road transport and fuel supplies; also in particular the NHS and allied services, local services, amenities and green and open spaces.

There are a minimum of industries and services that should be run in the public interest, not for profit.

A very large majority of people would, I believe, support such a programme that worked for them, not the interest of the few.

Mr Anthony Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens, Edinburgh

Vote shows Glasgow’s out of tune with nation

Mike Stevenson thinks that Glasgow would now make a better capital than Edinburgh (News, October 7). However, surely a capital city should be in tune with the majority of its country’s citizens.

In the recent referendum Edinburgh was one of 28 regions which voted No - Glasgow was one of only four regions which voted Yes. Enough said.

John Bowles, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh