JOHN Griffin makes some very reasonable points about NHS funding, but I think he is mistaken in one premise and so in his conclusion.

He is no doubt right that at least part of Dorset County Hospital’s problems, as nationally, stem from an inability to attract other than more expensive agency staff.

That situation is a direct result of public service pay policy by the government, for whom presumably a failing public health service is a politically desired end, in spite of claims to the contrary.

He is wrong to suppose that tax cannot be raised to support a universal health service.

It is perfectly possible, and merely requires political will.

We are not, in spite of our moaning to ourselves, a high-tax nation but, among comparable states, of only medium tax status.

As for Brexit, while the promised £350 million a week was made to sound a lot, it is actually a very small sum in the national scheme of things.

Extending charges for health care is a dangerous precedent we would do well to avoid. It encourages more people to opt for private care who then object to paying, in effect, twice.

The “universal” service ceases to be such, and the political will to maintain quality deteriorates. The result is inevitably a second class service with consequent unnecessary ill-health and premature deaths in increasing numbers.

Given our present already serious divisions, that would be a short cut to our ceasing to be one country.

Barry Tempest

Romulus Close,

Dorchester