OF course, the prospective Conservative candidate for Torridge and West Devon is right (Letters, February 15) to chastise the Liberal Democrats for scare tactics over the NHS in the run-up to the general election, but the public also has a right to be suspicious of Conservative health plans, based on their previous record in office.
In order to save money, the Tories drastically cut the training programmes of nurses and doctors, which has created the staff shortages we see today and which is frustrating the Labour Government's massive investment in health.
People will also remember the annual financial crises all the trusts endured, year after year, which in our area caused temporary ward closures and non-appointment of staff. Little wonder that many turned to private care, openly supported by the Tories, whilst they ran-down the NHS.
Perhaps the prospective Conservative candidate will tell us where exactly the £240-million worth of savings in our constituency will fall, in order to finance their promised tax cuts? Which doctors, nurses and teachers etc will be made redundant in order to pay for a hand-out to the wealthy — because until he does, I would advise people to stay healthy, and be on their guard against the same old false promises.
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David Brenton
Prospective Labour candidate
Torridge and West Devon