YOUR VIEWS: The drive for renewable energy and Raigmore Hospital patients speak out
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One reader disagrees with MSP Fergus Ewing while others share their thoughts on NHS struggles.
Renewables drive is a matter of will
I hear Fergus Ewing’s canny pragmatism in last Tuesday’s Courier – as Scots, we are prudent, sensible people, so surely we need our own, independent energy supply – enter North Sea oil and gas, and the new Rosebank field!
And in any normal world, especially a war-torn one, he’d be right. But the sad truth is, we are living in a far from normal world.
As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have just reported (March 2023), we are in a “last chance” scenario before runaway global warming passes fatal tipping points.
Soon, perhaps very soon (if not already), there will be no way back.
Scotland spearheaded the glory of the Industrial Revolution – now, as fossil fuel emissions reach the apex of danger for us all, Scotland surely has a moral duty to show leadership (and reparation) in a new green revolution.
Is this pie in the sky? No, simply a matter of political will in a country of coasts, mountains and glens where hydro, wind, wave and tidal power are sitting there for free. A few brave folks even have solar panels too – even heat pumps.
It’s a question of choices and this is as urgent as it gets.
Mr Ewing reminds me of an old SNP anthem: “It’s Scotland’s oil.”
I have another. Sing along when you get it (or Google The Stranglers): “Whatever happened to the climate crisis and Alok Sharma and green old Boris? Whatever happened to Net Zero? No more oil fields any more, no more gas fields any more …!”
Ruth Dunster
Inverness
Patients speak out on Raigmore
Recent news on a number of ward closures and cancelled operations at Raigmore Hospital prompted us to speak to patients, concerned about how ongoing challenges are affecting patient care.
“I had an operation in 2021...What I witnessed at Raigmore was a team under huge pressure. The nurses wanted to nurse and put their patients first. They loved their patients, however they were tired, overworked and despondent. As a patient you felt awkward asking for help. Not because you wouldn’t have got it, but you didn’t want to place pressure on the nurses or doctors.” – Angela Gibbs
"I was in A&E back in December everyone seemed very stressed and fed up. I felt bad for just being in.” – Bradley Grant
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