Hear All Sides: Europe

Mr Prodi says the EU must be turned into a 'grand political project' which will pave the way for a "supranational democracy".

Democracy is just what it will not be, if he has his way. How can it be democratic when we would be governed by people we have not elected, when we have most of our lives organised, regulated and ruled by a Parliament over which we, the people of Britain have no control or opportunity to remove from power.

Sir Teddy Taylor is correct to say Mr Prodi has let the cat out of the bag about Europe's future. The sad and dangerous thing is that Mr Blair seems to be completely in agreement with and under the sway of the ambitious Mr Prodi. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

PUBLIC SERVICE

I WOULD like to commend most highly the National Health Service and social services in the district of Spennymoor.

In October 2001, my wife and I moved to the area and, since then, we have experienced a fair amount of medical and social services support.

These comments are made by a man who has spent a lifetime as a manager in the NHS and has some knowledge of standards.

There are so many critical letters in the press about our NHS and social services that I feel that my viewpoint is particularly relevant. - Robert Harrison, Spennymoor.

ONCE again the new University Hospital of North Durham features in your newspaper for all the wrong reasons (Echo, May 28).

In Barry Nelson's article about the terrible experience of Winifred Leonard, he reported that "officials at the hospital pledged to investigate". In my opinion the investigation should be into the reasons why it is that we, the public of the area, are having to put up with situations such as this. The problems have been brought about, not because of any failure on behalf of the A&E staff, but because of the disgraceful decisions made several years ago by NHS Trust managers to close A&E facilities at Shotley Bridge General Hospital and, at the same time, downgrade it to community hospital status. This had the immediate effect of increasing the workload on the already strained facilities at Dryburn Hospital.

This is the real cause of today's problems, and the reason why it was ever allowed to happen is what should be investigated and those responsible brought to book, as it is nothing short of a scandal.

As you rightly say in your editorial comment in the same issue of the newspaper, efforts of the medical staff must be recognised. They are doing an excellent job of looking after the patients in difficult circumstances which are not of their making.

I believe the real failures of the NHS are the NHS Trust managers and, if they continue to make such planning blunders as they have in the past, then we can never expect any improvements in the service, despite all the efforts of the medical staff.

In view of Gordon Brown's promise for more funding for the NHS, surely this plan for merger should be consigned to the rubbish bin and a new one drawn up which would give the people of north Durham the hospital facilities they need and deserve, in their own area. - T Pattinson, Stanley.

GIBRALTAR

E REYNOLDS (HAS, May 27) wrote about Gibraltar. I find it difficult to believe that the peace-loving people on the Rock would resort to terror even if Tony Blair gave way to Spain.

What concerns me though is the sheer hypocrisy of the Spanish. They occupy the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the south side of the Straits of Gibraltar and resolutely refuse to hand these back to the Moroccans, to whom they rightly belong.

It would seem, therefore, that Spain has one law for Gibraltar and quite a different one when it comes to areas it occupies elsewhere. It is difficult not to see Mr Blair's readiness to do everything to curry favour with Spain as part of his ambition to become ruler of all Europe.

He will need full support when the time comes and will be able to call in favours dished out along the way. To be willing to sacrifice the Gilbraltarians for the sake of personal ambition is cynical in the extreme. - RK Bradley, Darlington.

JOURNALISM

WHILST not wishing to comment on the Stephen Byers issue, I would like to register my protest at the standards of national press journalism that contributed to his downfall.

It is my view that, during the last decade or so, the standard of national journalism has fallen to an all-time low. What they don't have in the way of facts is invented and spun, or because of idle, sloppy and often poor journalistic workmanship, is drawn from biased reports from press agencies.

They concentrate their attention on personalities rather than issues, and the pursuit of public figures is reminiscent of a pack of slavering hyenas. Politicians dare not criticise their practices for fear of being the next victims. The national television news follows the same pattern, with both major channels showing exactly the same items as each other in the same order from the same pre-digested and often dubious sources, and put out at the same time. They enjoy their power without responsibility.

The public are badly served by it and deserve better. - Chris Greenwell, Aycliffe.