MUCH of what Michael Thain claims in his article, Home truths for a healthier nation (May 28), is true, and needed saying . There is inevitably a balance to be achieved between the claims of interventional medicine and social provision.

However, it is incorrect to state that ''We have the best health service in Europe and probably in the world''. Our level of health provision is substantially lower than virtually all comparable countries (our spending per head is only 25% of the USA's), and we have no reason to be complacent about this.

What could be argued is that our spending may be approaching the level at which the cost of further improvements outweighs the benefits which will result, but there can be little doubt that many countries surpass us in the outcomes of treatment (and in many the concept of waiting-lists is unknown).

It is apparent that people feel strongly about the level of care provided by the NHS, and also about the underlying ethos of equity of provision. I believe that most people would prefer that the service was maintained and improved. The finance for improvements in housing, education, and nutrition should surely be retrieved from less popular and worthy sources that health care. Should our attention not be given once again to our level of ''Defence'' spending?

William McCulloch,

17 Alder Road,

Glasgow.

May 28.