YOUR report on the effect of staff shortages on cancer care (“Health chiefs blame staff shortage for worst cancer waiting times”, The Herald, March 29), coupled with the BBC’s report on the use of jargon in the NHS, highlight why we are experiencing the undermining of care in the health service and the reduction of patients to commodities.

The performance measurement criteria are all met because they are set by committees to meet constrained finances. The members of the many committees who preside over our health care do not work on the wards and do not see what patients put up with. Any challenge to the situation is met with jargon-laden references to the various committees who govern the hospital, none of which seems to be ultimately responsible.

Our Parliament should take steps to remediate these failings and improve quality of life.

Dominic Deeny,

43 Buchanan Drive,

Cambuslang.