Dear Orkney News,
This letter received a lot of attention, at the time, both as ‘shares’ and comments in ‘The Orkney News’, and also, folk contacting me, personally, saying how strongly they feel about this. It’s surprising how many people are affected by these issues. One lady suggested that a petition should be started, which I think is a good idea. I won’t be the one to do it, though, as I am spectacularly bad at Internet stuff, and would be capable of losing all the signatures! A good idea though, for someone more computer literate?
The letter was also printed in ‘The Orcadian’.
I sent the link to the letter in ‘The Orkney News’, to Liam McArthur and Alistair Carmichael, both of whom replied saying that they strongly support the case I was putting in my letter, and that they had each written to the head of NHS Orkney, and would let me know the result.
Today, I received an email from Liam McArthur, including the reply he received from NHS Orkney. It’s worded in the usual corporate/office speak, but it’s still saying “No”!
Liam assures me that he will continue to be active on this issue, for which I thanked him, and said that I will do the same.
So, people, if you felt strongly when you read my letter, and if you feel strongly now – please take action, contact anyone you can think of, politely but strongly stating how much you feel that a psychiatric unit is needed in the new hospital.
If you would like to see the correspondence between Liam and NHS Orkney, you could contact him about it. Liam.McArthur.msp@parliament.scot
‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’.
Over to you.
Yours, Bernie Bell, Orkney