AT a time when certain politicians seek to denigrate the achievements of NHS Scotland by carping about every defect they can find, I feel it is appropriate to narrate one of my recent experiences of the excellent service which we in Scotland receive.

At the end of August I was stricken by a very vicious and, at the time, unidentified virus and thanks to my GP and, following triage at Falkirk, I was admitted immediately to Forth Valley Royal Hospital at Larbert. I was given emergency treatment to stop the infection and in course the invasive microbe was identified as a not uncommon but very nasty little bug and I was placed on a regime of curative antibiotics. I am in no doubt that the prompt and efficient treatment I received saved my eyesight, my sanity and probably my life. The care I received from all staff in the hospital was gentle, unstinting and watchful, and I continue to receive such treatment as an outpatient. My gratitude to NHS (Scotland) is unbounded and I remain in contempt of, and anger for, those who seek to gain political capital from the occasional failings of this great Scottish institution.

KM Campbell.

Bank House, Doune.

THOSE who heap praise on the NHS had perhaps better hope they do not come under the tender loving care of Ayrshire and Arran Health Board (AAHB). Your health correspondent has exposed what I regard as a cynical money-making scheme which AAHB has introduced (“Health board to earn £100k from private eye treatment”, The Herald, September 18).

I believe the risk to patients is far greater than AAHB is admitting. The refusal to perform cataract surgery on a second eye while there is still any vision in the first eye massively increases the risk of blindness for patients. An example was my mother who had cataracts but before they were deemed bad enough to be treated a blood vessel burst in one eye, removing sight from it. The AAHB consultant said he would not risk performing cataract surgery on her good eye in case of a problem. Therefore her eyesight deteriorated until she was virtually blind.

AAHB is in my view exposing everyone with cataracts to a massively increased risk of blindness, and will profit from the few who can afford private treatment. One must ask why Cabinet Health Secretary Jeane Freeman,is allowing this exercise?

David Stubley,

22 Templeton Crescent,

Prestwick.

I NOTE the recent discussion on breast cancer screening (“Hundreds of women hit by breast screening blunder”, The Herald, September 14, and Letters, September 17). Whilst women over the age of 70 regardless of a blunder, do not receive an invitation to attend, there is a possibility of self-referral.

This was explained to me at my “last” test and I have subsequently had said appointment. I was informed I could continue until such times I deemed not necessary, regardless of age. Perhaps it is a little-known fact, but suggest, this is something worth looking into.

Mrs Constance Buchanan,

100 Auchmannoch Avenue,

Ralston, Paisley.

DAVID J Crawford (Letters, September 17), asks why Scottish universities and medical schools can provide places for students from overseas but have to turn away well-qualified domestic candidates. Our home-grown young talent miss out on places given to overseas (non- EU) students who pay upwards of £30,000 per year of study.

R Russell Smith,

96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.