Readers of The Northern Echo have shared their thoughts on what improvements they believe are needed for the National Health Service.

Their ideas ranged from operational changes to financial restructuring, with some suggesting radical overhauls.

It comes as Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched a consultation online, asking members of the public for ideas to improve the NHS.

Stephen J Scales said: "Improving social care and funding more GP practices and dentists.

"The acute sector ends up picking up all the work from these three failing sectors."

Rodney Bell suggested a return to a more traditional system, with a matron-led structure replacing the current trust management system.

He also expressed his hope that the new government would rescue the NHS from its alleged decline over the past 14 years.

Sylvia Robson and Susan McP both advocated for free treatment only for those who have paid into the system, with Sylvia citing other countries as examples.

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Margaret Yard and Robert Latcham called for Bishop Auckland Hospital to be fully reopened.

Several readers, such as Helen Millar and Ann Hardy, voiced concerns about the number of managerial roles within the NHS.

They felt that these positions were costly and detracted from the focus on patient care.

Ms Hardy also highlighted the financial burden on student nurses, suggesting that they should be paid during their training, as they were in the past.

Other suggestions included a complete overhaul of spending, with a particular focus on reducing non-medical roles in senior positions.

There was also a call to cancel all PFI contracts and reinvest the money in staff and beds from readers such as John Malcolm.

Another reader, Simon Bell, believed that stopping foreign aid and loans would help alleviate the pressure on the NHS. He also pointed out that the NHS is being overwhelmed by migrants.

Finally, some readers, like Anne Hardy, suggested that making medical roles more attractive, with better pay and reasonable workloads, could help improve the NHS.

She also suggested more on-the-job training for those pursuing nursing and medical degrees.