LIKE Frank McGee (Letters, March 19), I have had excellent experience of the services provided by the NHS. However, when attending hospital the strain on those services created by the sheer number of people of all ages in the consultancy waiting areas of the hospitals was obvious. Serious conditions require early attention from experienced consultants, but I wonder whether overworked doctors are becoming too ready to refer patients to consultants for second and third opinions, or is it simply that we as a nation are becoming less and less healthy?

My recollection of the distant past was that referrals to consultants were few and far between, whereas now it seems to be a routine part of the NHS procedure which generates more and more pressure on the NHS. This is illustrated by Mr McGee’s experience involving consulting his GP , then his health centre, then the Royal Infirmary, then the Queen Elizabeth hospital and finally Gartnavel Hospital where at last a treatment plan was put into action. I do not criticise the NHS for all of this care and attention but wonder whether it is all necessary or if any shortcuts in such referrals might be possible to relieve some of the overall pressure on the NHS ?

Alan Fitzpatrick,

10 Solomon’s View, Dunlop.

It was good to read of the care provided within the NHS to reader Frank McGee at a time when the service is subject to adverse criticism.

Mr McGee comments that he received exemplary service, from the car park attendant to "even the pharmacy".

As an integral part of the NHS, one would expect nothing less from the those providing a pharmacy service whether within the hospital, or within the community.

Malcolm Allan (former pharmacist),

2 Tofthill Gardens, Bishopbriggs.