The Echo spread last Saturday - the history of the introduction of the NHS in the 1940s - contained an awful warning.

Under the heading: "When life for many was short and cruel . . ." it spoke, not just of the great technological advances that were to come, but of the extension of healthcare to all, regardless of income, one of the most life-changing achievements of the twentieth century.

And this is threatened now by our Conservative government.

When we were arguing, a good few years ago, about privatising the railways, it was pointed put that there are some services which, if properly run, cannot and should not, make a profit, and that public transport was one of them. Many of us would say that subsequent experience has proved this to be true and that health provision is another example.

Also that the American 40 per cent profit model rather confirms this to be true. And yet it is on the American model that our government has in its sights.

Did you notice, in the Echo's NHS feature, a double page advertisement for a private healthcare company? Presumably the company that is going to be running our 'partially privatised' health service in Dorset soon.

(And there is no guarantee that this company won't be another Carillion!)

The government has never allowed a public debate about the privatisation of healthcare, about the run-down of the NHS. Local communities protest about local issues (and are ignored) but the the UK-wide picture and the general principle is not being addressed. Our natural preoccupation with the Brexit fiasco is a great friend to the government in this.

Most of those who remember what it was like before the welfare state have gone now, but our children and grandchildren will find out what it means to go without an assumption of health provision which is free at the point of use.

L Crowe

Fancy's Close

Portland