SO the NHS is failing the British people and needs to be revamped, according to N L Fletcher of Norton, (Letters, August 12).

No, it is the British people who are failing the finest NHS in the world. As are the 691 people in Mr Fletcher's area - where I live - who failed to turn up for appointments at their Derwent surgery last month. That's a monthly average in Malton and Norton - and mostly, I'm told, young patients.

The NHS has become a convenient repair service for selfish people who abuse their bodes. It is not the fault of doctors and nurses that people, especially younger ones, drink and smoke to excess, live on junk food and take little, or no, exercise.

Doctors and nurses have enough on their plate dealing with the genuinely ill and increasing number of older people.

Now we see even the very young becoming obese, over-indulged and living their lives watching TV.

Two American doctors who visited York recently told me: "Value your NHS. It's brilliant, priceless." They compared it with the government-funded health care in the USA, the world's biggest economy.

So why do some politicians and newspapers keep trying to brainwash everyone into thinking we have a "Third World health service". I have seen hospitals in the Third World and recall what life and health was like before the post-war Labour government gave us the NHS. It is time we valued our NHS - and stopped rubbishing it.

Bill Anderson,

Welham Road,

Norton, Malton.

Updated: 09:56 Saturday, August 16, 2003