Letters to the Editor
Dear Madam,
Tonight my other half finished her latest 12 hour shift as a nurse in a windowless intensive care unit differently from usual. Yes, she was drained. She was exhausted. But she was also incandescently angry, bitterly disappointed, horribly betrayed and so upset she was barely able to speak.
Her colleagues all felt the same. The day had been one of tears, disbelief and baffled anger. That their huge and selfless efforts over recent months had been totally ignored.
Almost a million public sector workers are getting pay rises. But not nurses. It wasn't dentists who saved countless lives or held the hands and comforted the families of those who couldn't be saved. Most of them haven't worked at all during the pandemic.
It wasn't teachers who faced the daily terror of being infected in the line of duty. None of these nurses begrudge the rises for other public sector workers. They simply don't want to be left out, overlooked and ignored. Not when they did more, gave more and hurt more than any other sector during this 100 year event.
Scott Douglas, Edinburgh, EH9
Dear Madam,
The Scottish Government wants us to walk and cycle more, to reduce passenger numbers on public transport and encourages us to keep fit and healthy.
RNIB Scotland believes this 'Spaces for People' initiative could transform active travel for everyone. But, we remain concerned that, if these moves are introduced too hastily, with not enough thought given to people who are blind or partially sighted or who have other mobility issues, it could actually end up putting barriers in place. We want space for new cycle lanes to be taken from roads not pavements, for new designs to avoid the shared spaces concept, for clutter to be removed from our streets, and for controlled crossings to the road or bus stops to be installed. This will make things safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
The current situation has made us all a little more aware of what it is like to feel vulnerable, to depend more on others. Let's build on the sense of greater cohesiveness this crisis has created and make sure the Scotland we return to is inclusive for everyone.
James Adams, Director,
RNIB Scotland