By Isle of Wight Observer
Dear Editor,
I am 80 years and have spent 74 of those on our Island; you used to be able to leave your house and car unlocked, people had respect and you could drive anywhere with ease.
Now all these things are gone, the roads are similar to the M25 and in total disrepair. The police are invisible and our infrastructure has collapsed. The government will boast that we have received £30.4 million for our hospital, £6.7 million of this for a new integrated mental health and community hub in Newport’s High Street. I am doubtful it will be used as most shops in that area are closed.
My biggest concern is the total failure of our medical centres which I understand is the same across the country. We now need to wait outside the practice by 8am to get an appointment or wait on the phone to be counted down from number 15 or more in the queue, which can take up to thirty minutes. I am lucky to have the finest doctor in the practice who explained why the system has failed.
They have 15,000 patients, with current building projects in our area adding up to another 4,000. They receive 400 telephone calls per day, with 250 patients obviously very angry. I was also told that the centre was never consulted about planning consent for these buildings for profit (not starter homes). No further funding is to be allowed at these centres.
I doubt that any of the parties have any solution to this catastrophic mess we are in, but I recommend a future government should spend less time earning world esteem from giving our money to Israel and others, and try to save our country.
Norman Harris, Cowes