A national disgrace?
Having visited Oban for its own sake on many occasions, as well as for the sole purpose of catching a ferry, I have often noted the sorry state of the flags in the memorial fountain garden in Argyll Square.
The Union flag, Saltire and flag of the Commonwealth of Nations sit together in one of the most prominent locations in the town. How therefore can Oban, which only last year was campaigning for city status, have any sense of pride in its public image when the national flag being flown in the town centre is weather-torn half way up its length?
In some countries, laws exist which prohibit the flying of the national flag if damaged or defaced. Yet in Oban, the national flag in the town centre looks as though it came off a poor second to a boat propeller.
Having travelled extensively throughout Europe, I could not envisage the local authorities in Bergen, Le Havre or Santander for example, allowing their national flags to be displayed to locals and visitors alike in the same disgraceful condition that can be seen in Oban.
Come on Oban, surely a town which considers itself worthy of city status can stretch to flying the national flag in a pristine condition? If not, then perhaps empty flagpoles should be the preferred alternative.
Robert Knight, by email.
Winter warning over NHS
Leading doctor, Dr Iain Kennedy, the chairman of the BMA, has warned that NHS Scotland is failing to provide basic care to patients, due to chronic staff shortages.
Worse still, deaths last winter were at their highest for more than 30 years.
Last year, Humza Yousaf presided over a winter crisis. He must now take this warning seriously and ensure the NHS is properly prepared for the coming winter or the consequences for patients could be severe.
In his Winter Preparedness Plan, Michael Matheson showed that he has learnt nothing from the failures made by his predecessor, Humza Yousaf. Instead, he looks set to preside over an even bigger crisis in our NHS.
Councillor Alastair Redman, Kintyre and the Islands.
Cardiology concerns
Waiting times for cardiology appointments in Scotland are at record levels and have more than doubled since before the Covid pandemic.
Between September 2016 and June 2023, the number of people waiting for an appointment rose from 10, 496 to 22,720. In the last year alone, the waiting list has grown by 6,000.
The British Heart Foundation is deeply concerned by these figures, not least because deaths from heart and circulatory diseases are also increasing in Scotland.
Last year, 18,073 people (around 50 a day) died from heart and circulatory diseases – this is the highest number of deaths since 2008.
At the BHF we know that delays in the diagnosis and treatment of a heart condition can have devastating consequences.
As also understand the human impact behind these figures – the families dealing with grief and loss, worry and anxiety.
That’s why we are asking the public who have been impacted by cardiology waiting times to get in touch with us. If you are willing to share your experience of waiting for a cardiology appointment in Scotland with the BHF please e-mail scotland@bhf.org.uk or call 0131 555 5891 to speak to our team.
David McColgan, head of British Heart Foundation Scotland.
Mary’s Meals thanks
Today, more than 46,000 children are sitting in classrooms across Liberia with full stomachs, eager to learn how to read and write, thanks to your readers’ heart-warming response to our previous match funding campaign, supported by the UK Government.
Mary’s Meals serves nutritious food in school to some of the world’s hungriest children, attracting them to the classroom, where they can gain an education and be given the chance to dream of a brighter future.
Mary’s Meals has been able to make a life-changing difference to little ones across Liberia thanks to donations to our 2020/2021 Double The Love campaign – which were matched by the UK government, up to £2million.
Hawa, nine, attends Dendewea Public School, one of 215 schools receiving Mary’s Meals because of the incredible generosity of our fantastic supporters and the UK government. The promise of a daily meal motivates Hawa to go to school and provides her with hope.
She said: “The impact Mary’s Meals has had on my education is that it makes me happy to learn, and it makes me strong to work and study. The food that Mary’s Meals serves here has made me have hope for the future. If I did not receive the food, I would experience hunger in school.”
We wish to say how grateful we are to everyone who donated to the Double The Love campaign. Your kindness is helping us to provide lasting change for those who need it most.
You can find out more about our work by visiting marysmeals.org.uk.
Gary Armstrong, Mary’s Meals.