I WAS appalled to hear members of the BMA suggest on TV that patients should be charged £10 for each visit to the doctor.

One of these worthies, on being challenged, actually said that £10 was "neither here nor there". Her ignorant insensitivity perfectly illustrated the way this country has been divided into two nations, with one half completely unaware of how the other half lives.

Of course, having floated the idea, there were exemptions discussed, such as long-term ailments like diabetes and MS. However, they could not hide the fact that this would be a further erosion of the principle upon which the NHS was created in 1948 and the firm commitment that the NHS would provide treatment free at the point of need. One wonders how much the health of the nation has deteriorated since the introduction of extortionate prescription charges. The increase in eye and dental problems is a perfect indication of the effect of unaffordable charges.

First we had those unemployed - through no fault of their own - characterised as "lazy scroungers". Then the old being regarded as, first, a burden on the state for demanding decent pensions, then bedblockers for taking up beds and, finally, time-wasters for taking up the time of GPs.

Finally, I wish these people had had to live in the thirties and forties when ordinary people had to struggle to pay crippling doctors' bills if unfortunate enough to be ill. My mother was an invalid and it was only thanks to the kindness and patience of her doctor, especially during the Depression of the thirties, that we were able to survive.

We must do everything we can to make sure that any slight hint of returning to those days is vigorously resisted wherever it rears its ugly head.

JIM HOMEWOOD,

Carr Avenue, Prestwich.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.