IN the third week of January, I took the one-centimetre lump on my forearm to the doctor. She examined it, asked some questions and offered to refer me to dermatology. I accepted. Around January 29 I received a phone call offering me an appointment at Haddington Community Hospital on February 2. On that day the consultant took one look at the lump and said: “I know what that is and we can fix it.”

It was a non-invasive skin tumour. She also told me that if I was prepared to go to ERI at Lauriston Place in Edinburgh, there was a good chance that it would be removed within the week. I accepted. The same afternoon I received a phone call offering me a slot the next day at 4pm. The skin tumour was removed and I have 11 sutures to be removed by the practice nurse at my own surgery. All arranged.

I cannot praise everyone highly enough for the speedy, efficient and friendly way I was treated. Many of your letter-writers stress the fact that Ms Sturgeon and Ms Freeman are personally responsible for every single thing that happens in NHS Scotland so may I express my deep gratitude for the way in which they arranged for my truly excellent treatment?

Rachel Martin
Musselburgh

PEOPLE who get sucked in to wondering whether to support the Tory Government because it is in charge of a very British Oxford University vaccine distribution, have ever considered what the Tories would get up to when the pandemic is over?

Least of all what they got up to, or rather what they didn’t get up to, at the very beginning of the pandemic last year, which has resulted in more than 112,000 deaths so far?

Will they have forgotten that they are still and will remain in charge of the Westminster parliament that has government ministers who know nothing about the real world and its occupants, but know an awful lot about taking advantage of their positions in government to their own financial gain?

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife