THE merits of nurses versus GPs and the endgame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine are all covered in the latest edition of the Tele Postbag.

You can have your say on the big talking points by emailing your views to editorial@greenocktelegraph.co.uk with 'Postbag' in the subject line. Happy writing!

Nurses are now better than GPs at helping those who are unwell

It is apparent to all and sundry that the likes of pharmacists, nurses and physiotherapists are helping sick people more than self-employed GPs.

And what matters to the self-employed more than anything else is blatant...aye, money!

As for medical students, none of them now want to be GPs. Basically, GPs sit behind a stupid desk prescribing painkillers, antibiotics and antidepressants. And we all know that they are not doctors at all. To be a doctor you need to have successfully completed a doctorate. The vast majority of medical practitioners did not. 

GPs are only GPs because they could not get anything else. They are at the bottom of the medical pile. And a useless stethoscope around their neck, an idiotic wiggle-waggle walk, and a false accent changes nowt. 

You are better seeing a nurse than a GP. The status of GPs is now minus zero and falling. We all see through them now. It’s just an immature act that is inextricably linked to money.

John Bowes
Fancy Farm Road, Greenock

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Seeking answers from our MP on Ukraine war

During the general election campaign earlier this year, as a constituent I asked Martin McCluskey, now the MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, the following five questions.

  • Do you realistically believe that Ukraine with further financial and military aid can defeat Russia?
  • With the death and injury toll excessively high and a shortage of manpower, how many more Ukrainian military personnel and civilian population must die before negotiations begin?
  • Considering the ongoing destruction of infrastructure how long will it take for a victorious or defeated Ukraine to rebuild post war and at what financial cost?
  • Will you support British military intervention in Ukraine?
  • What would a Russian defeat in Ukraine look like?

Mr McCluskey evaded the questions, but pointed me to the Labour party manifesto. As this did not provide me with answers to my questions, I have continued to request that Mr McCluskey provide transparent, open and honest answers.

I also met the MP in July this year to express my concern at the ongoing escalation of this war. During the meeting he told me he would pass my questions to the Ministry of Defence as he was unable to answer them himself.

Allowing over a month to pass since our face to face meeting, I again contacted Mr McCluskey for feedback, only to receive an automated reply advising me that he received hundreds of emails each day and my patience would be appreciated.

This was the case in the ensuing months until late October. After receiving yet another automated reply, I subsequently sent a Freedom of Information request asking how many emails of the hundreds he receives each day are from constituents.

There was no automated reply, but an expedient reply to my previous request for feedback, where he again evaded the questions, dismissed me and advised me to directly contact the Foreign and Defence Secretaries should I have any further questions.

I have been unable to support not only the previous government’s position on Ukraine, nor the “iron clad”, “unwavering” and “as long as it takes”’ Keir Starmer’s Labour government support of this war. 

Furthermore, from the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine I have believed the response of NATO, led by the US, has been an existential threat to world peace.

I believe it is irrelevant whether the government supports Ukraine or not. What is relevant is the answers to my questions, dull or ignorant as they may seem.

Ross Dowds
Cardwell Road, Gourock