Letter: “If people can afford private healthcare, they can afford to pay more tax.”

I take the view that a valid measure of society is its view towards the health and welfare of its members. I was therefore aghast to read the letters page on last week’s (14th July) edition, in particular the letters from Ian Maiden and Phyliis Inglis, although I also feel bound to comment upon the letter from Mrs Rigby of Lymington.

Mr Maiden certainly is not a “lefty.” I would maintain the founding principle behind the NHS is that it should be available to all irrespective of class or income. Were it to become a means tested benefit then I would foresee a large band of the population who would not qualify but who would be placed in severe financial difficulty in paying private medical bills.

Further, as per the dental profession, would we see medical staff opting for the better paid private sector thus leaving the NHS even more understaffed than it is presently? In part, an answer to the NHS funding is in Mr Maiden’s letter itself. If a great number of people can afford to fund private healthcare they can afford a higher rate of tax, thus benefiting society as a whole.

Phyllis Inglis’s view is reminiscent of Dickens character Scrooge. When asked to make a charitable donation Scrooge was of the opinion that there was no need for such given the presence of the workhouses. She appears to view the majority of benefit claimants as scroungers and whilst it cannot be denied that benefit fraud is present, equally many well monied use tax dodges, both legal and illegal, to increase their wealth.

I found her comments on food banks particularly troubling. I feel sure that many people using food banks do so suffering great embarrassment (for no need). Were they to read of Phylis Inglis’s view doubtless that embarrassment would be even greater.

Turning to Mrs Rigby’s defence of Boris Johnson I would simply say this: he had no honour and was purely self motivated. On more than one occasion he appears to have broken the most important trust that should exist between a husband and wife and family. That being the case, why should we ever have trusted him?

Steve Whitfield

Hythe