Our readers from across the county give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Kent and beyond.

Some letters refer to past correspondence which can be found by clicking here. Join the debate by emailing letters@thekmgroup.co.uk

Arrogant NHS bosses are failing patients

The latest horrific failure in the NHS brings into sharp focus something that many of us have been pointing out for years, that the main cause of its problems is bureaucracy draining the strength from the organisation like a giant succubus.

These so-called managers obfuscate all errors made on their watch, belong to a merry go round circle of overpaid parasites, and are granted unearned bonuses, while patients are treated as nuisances to be ignored. They are supported by that non profession HR, with its ridiculous jargon of synergies and lacunas, producing endless worthless policies, that do no more than waste time and resources, based on their mantra of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

No normal person regards themselves as superior to others by virtue of cosmetic differences, like skin colour, yet these woke fanatics cause division and conflict by implementing their own prejudices against normal, decent people.

Parkinson’s law was first published in 1955, observing that public administration, bureaucracy and officialdom expands to fill its allotted time span, regardless of the amount of work to be done. This was attributed mainly to two factors: that officials want subordinates, not rivals, and that officials make work for each other.

Extra funding for the NHS just vanishes into the bottomless pit of the bureaucracy, spent on even more rooms for pointless meetings, constantly growing numbers of officials who spend their time communicating with each other, and paying those at the top ridiculously large amounts, while failing to effectively manage anything. We now learn that in the Lucy Letby case managers threatened clinical staff concerned about her actions, and made them apologise to the murderess, rather than investigate properly, yet only rarely is anyone held accountable for such failures.

If the NHS is to be rescued then 95% of these managers should be sacked, HR should be totally abolished, and not incidentally just within the health service, and all policies, within and outside the NHS, based on the absurd woke ideology should be scrapped. Clinicians should be listened to, whistleblowers supported, not persecuted, and patients’ complaints heeded. However, given the utter uselessness of the political elite, no doubt all that will happen is that yet more taxpayers' money will be poured in, all to no avail.

Colin Bullen

Grown-up politics needed at time of crisis

I have found it hard to understand why party politics is still operating at this time of real crisis. I am convinced that the only way to begin to tackle this climate emergency is to work together and not score political points. Drastic measures will have to be taken, which will mean the public will HAVE to change their habits and probably be deprived of things which have become a normal way of life.

Every political party’s main aim is to get elected at the next election. The electorate is not so likely to vote for a party that will bring in unpopular measures. This would not be such a problem if these measures were agreed on by the main parties.

We can’t rely on members of the public to ‘do the right thing’ as individuals. I try to be green but I fail in at least one way – I have, over the last few years, taken some long-haul holidays and I have got two more booked. I would be perfectly happy if I was told that, for the sake of the planet, I was no longer allowed to take these holidays – and that this would apply to everyone.

There has been a coalition during wartime. Now we are fighting for the survival of our planet, the human race, and many innocent creatures that are already facing extinction.

For goodness sake, let’s have grown-up politics and put other differences aside, at least on the most important issue we could ever face.

Lesley Flint

Financial and human cost of pollution

The debate around the Ultra Low Emission Zone highlights all the problems that arise with regards to climate change.

Those opposing ULEZ base their arguments on the fact that the charge hits those who can least afford to pay the charge.

Those arguing for the charge stress that the dangerous levels of pollution is damaging people’s health, especially amongst those on low incomes.

Both sides express concerns for those people who live on low incomes. But what actually does that concern lead to?

As an example, check out what Kent County Council is doing with regard to bus services.

Many routes are being cut, others reduced, leaving those who are dependent upon bus services facing isolation.

What is the government doing to support public transport?

Transport for London is struggling to maintain services because government support has been reduced.

Local government generally and the National Health Service are suffering for the same reason.

What is clear is that action is required to reduce the level of carbon dioxide and other polluting gases from the atmosphere.

There is a cost with regard to the climate crisis.

We can either accept the cost seen in high levels of pollution, storms, wild fires, damage to property, loss of life, increased migration as areas of the world become inhabitable, loss of species and the increasing danger to the future of human life.

Or, we can accept the cost of taking action over climate change: moving to the use of renewal energy; transitioning from the use of private cars to an enhanced public transport system; introducing the many other proposals that have been put forward to create a new approach to our daily lives.

The cost of climate change cannot be placed upon those least able to afford it.

The nation benefitted from the Industrial Revolution before any other nation. The problems that would arise because of that revolution were not realised as that revolution developed.

As we led then, so should we now take the lead again. Not just in words but in actions.

Ralph A. Tebbutt

Vital need to tackle harmful emissions

Whilst I agree with Colin Bullen that people should not panic over climate change, there is a need to be concerned.

As Colin states, barring some cosmic calamity Earth will continue to circle the sun for at least another four billion years. The point is what sort of life, if any, will it support?

The BBC and the press generally do not support or deny the global warming theory, they report on scientists' findings and predictions. The predictions may or may not come true, for if the steps being taken avert disaster there will be those that will claim there was never a problem. It is unfortunate that the media also has to report on the extremists' actions, these are the ones that are scaremongering.

To state that previous extreme climate changes had nothing to do with human intervention does not mean that present activities are not having any effect.

Global warming apart, poor air quality is the cause of severe health problems that alone should warrant the need to reduce harmful emissions.

Brian Barnard

Let’s go back to common sense on immigration

I had just read in a national paper of our record low birth rate and rising number of oldies like me. This news coming on top of the large number of job vacancies in the hospitality, care, and agricultural sectors.

The obvious solution being to seek young people to fill these positions, as we did with the 'Windrush' generation after the Second World War.

So, when mainly young people arrive on our shore in small boats, isn't the obvious thing to welcome them with open arms and immediately process them and get them into training to fill these vacancies?

Or better still, do as the Calais lady mayor suggested - send UK government officials to France to process them, thereby destroying the people smuggler's organisations at a stroke.

But instead, the government just houses them at vast expense for many months and delays their asylum applications so that only a trickle reach the job market.

Returning to the start of the Second World War, the Tory government of the day, evacuated over a million children from the cities and large towns and found them accommodation in the countryside in three days.

I know, because I was one of them who finished up in Tonbridge with my mother, and it just shows what governments can do when there is the will.

So why don't we just forget about left-wing, right-wing, Tory, Labour and Liberal and return to 'common sense'? I'm sure most of us use it all the time in our own lives, so why doesn't the government?

Could it be that like in Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta Iolanthe, where once in parliament 'members don't have to think for themselves at all, but just do what their party tells them' - it certainly seems so!

Mike Armstrong

Crossings must be stopped

I would like to reply to Keith Nevois who stated that we don’t make refugees welcome.

It’s on camera that some complain of living in luxury hotels, all at enormous cost to the taxpayer. Also, they complain that some are living two to a room. The refugees do not know how lucky they are particularly when they have been living in camps in France in filthy conditions. There’s an old saying, ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds you’.

It begs the question why the refugees have travelled through many safe countries in order to get to Britain where they were already ‘safe’ and have the freedom they cherish. I have listened to many of the migrants saying that they simply want a better life.

These supposedly poor refugees are paying thousands of pounds to the people smugglers to take them across the channel. I just wish people like Keith Nevols would wake up and smell the coffee as there is no such thing as a free lunch as all of us are paying for their privileges, which simply will bankrupt our country if not stopped - and soon.

I wonder about those who write in these columns, who are so supportive of the refugees, just how much money they give them out of their own pocket, or indeed are prepared to put them up in their own homes?

Sid Anning

Fobbed off with the same line

Whenever the government come under fire from the opposition for its failure or inadequacies in dealing with a major concern, it usually responds with a statement to the effect that they have spent record amounts to tackle the problem.

The explanation they give, is their way to stymie any further debate on the matter. It's a ploy that reeks of avoidance.

No one is naive enough to believe in any practical measures they purport to have taken.

M. Smith

Bus service cuts hitting older people

Once the world was my oyster.

Sun shining? The day's to be seized!

I'd hop on a bus

Without any fuss

And travel wherever I pleased.

The bus pass? A boon to us Oldies!

In town we'd meet up with a friend.

With the pass in your hand

A day out was grand

And smiles would accompany day's end.

But the oyster has shrunk to a winkle;

The pearl has lost lustre and sheen.

A curfew at 3!

And no weekends for me!

I clearly should rarely be seen.

No wonder the Oldies are lonely!

And more so in future, it seems.

The days out, the chat –

It's goodbye to that.

Dimmed down days are replacing our dreams.

Marjory Francis