11/05/04

At a recent event organised by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH), local PPI Forum members were given a very stark picture of the state of health in the North-East and how, by responding to the Choosing Health consultation, our region has the most to gain as there is much to improve upon.

As well as hosting events to facilitate contributions to the consultation, encouraging PPI forums and forum members to respond, the CPPIH is also working with local organisations to provide assistance in their efforts to ensure everyone has their say.

As much as we have to gain by ensuring that the North-East's voice is heard, the opposite is also true. We need to take this vital opportunity to participate in a process that could improve the health of everyone in our region. - Sally Young, Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, North-East Region.

IRAQ

THE photographs showing Iraqis allegedly being humiliated are disgraceful. They dishonour our nation and armed forces.

Equally, you don't need a degree in psychology to understand that people being denied their civil and legal rights, humiliated, denigrated, physically and mentally tortured in our name will in one way or another corrupt our souls, destroying in the process some small part of what defines us as human beings and as a nation.

Whilst I do not condone such action, we must remember that this nation is at war, and the unpalatable truth we have to face is that the information needed to save lives, to prevent attacks or even end this war will not be obtained through a friendly conversation over tea and biscuits. - CT Riley, Spennymoor.

I DO not seek to support the use of violence and torture against Iraqi prisoners or anybody else in custody, but aren't the people of this country being somewhat selective in what they seek to condemn?

Conflict is a nasty business, but we did not hear the outcry quite so loudly when bombs were falling on defenceless people in Baghdad, tearing their bodies apart.

The armed forces are trained to kill and are obliged to lose any sense of humanity unless they want to be the next fatality. Respect and compassion for the enemy is not an option and in the minds of combat troops who are facing the threat of death, these laudable qualities are replaced by contempt and hatred, brought on by a desire to survive. So it is no surprise that some soldiers, perhaps spurred on by bitter experience, behave as they do when they get their hands on enemy suspects.

People should be outraged if these photographs prove to be authentic but, in the meantime, they should remember that it is the tabloid press that is leading this witch-hunt and they are seldom interested in the truth. They are quick to destroy anybody's reputation in order to increase circulation figures. - D Brearley, Bexley Drive, Middlesbrough.

BUS HISTORY

I AM writing the history of the bus and coach firm OK Motor Services of Bishop Auckland.

It is going well, but there are two of the businesses which were taken over by OK that I know less about - Stephenson Bros of High Etherley and JG Storey of Toronto.

Both ran from Witton Park into Bishop, and Stephensons also ran on the Evenwood-Bishop service along with others.

Storey's business was taken over in 1936, while Stephensons ran both routes until 1970 and continued as a coach operator.

If any of your readers are relatives of the Stephenson or Storey families, or have other connections with these firms, I should be delighted to hear from them. - David Holding, 6 The Dene, Chester Moor, Durham DH2 3TB.

MONARCHY

I SENSE a great deal of republican sentiment in this country. And I think few people relish the prospect of Charles becoming our next head of state.

So isn't it high time there was a major debate on the future of the monarchy, leading to a referendum on the issue?

Let's fact it, the royals epitomise all that is wrong with British society today. Thanks to them, we have a system that a) is immune from democratic parliamentary control, and cannot be challenged in the courts; b) that reinforces discriminatory values like inherited privilege and wealth; c) that is horrendously expensive to run - the Civil List is widely regarded as an unreasonable drain on the taxpayer; d) that absurdly elevates some men and women above their neighbours, eg the honours fiasco; e) that arrogantly wastes much valuable government time, eg the monarch's annual opening of Parliament; f) that actually hampers democratic debate, eg because the Queen signed the Treaty of Maastricht our MPs were then unable to change it.

The monarchy has become an anachronism, the royals more out of touch, the ruling elite more corrupted, and the capacity of the taxpayers and the general public to give extremely strong voice to republican sentiment more certain.

What a great achievement it would be for civil liberty if this country ended the divine right of kings and started electing its heads of state. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

Darlington FC

I HAVE noticed, in the long running saga of Darlington FC, the total lack of concern for the many businesses which will suffer when they are offered only a few pence for every pound they are owed.

All provided goods and services in good faith, and expected to be paid.

Supporters are continually urging creditors to accept a fraction of what is owed without any thought for the impact this may have on those businesses.

Larger organisations and businesses have greater resources and will, no doubt, overcome this setback. Smaller businesses may never recover.

Some creditors do not appear to be suffering very much at all. - RI Darling, Stockton-on-Tees.