MALCOLM Allan proposes that medical practitioners require "after clinical expertise, the ability to communicate with patients" (Letters, August 8). He misses the point. The key asset in clinical practice is adequate time to deploy clinical and communication skills. The key issues for politicians seeking to manage medical practice are targets, numbers and money. Medical practitioners are fully aware of flawed medical practice, none more so, but are locked in and bullied.
It is axiomatic that improving patient care requires more time devoted to each patient and consequently fewer patients seen; a reality unacceptable to politicians eyeing their own re-election and a future independence referendum.
Divorcing medicine from politics would be a helpful move; but NHS Scotland is a component of the political power-base and would not be discarded willingly. Time is key; power also.
Dr William Durward,
20 South Erskine Park, Bearsden.
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