ALL over the national press and media we read and hear that the NHS is at breaking point and cannot cope with demand.

That the NHS is at a ‘watershed moment’ and cannot deliver care to the standards required by its constitution with the funding it receives, so Jeremy Hunt the government’s Health and Social Care Secretary has been told.

Unfortunately the situation surrounding what should be done has become politicised. But this aside should not the managers of NHS trust hospitals be more transparent with the public as to what their needs are?

For example, tell us what the staffing figures and bed occupancy numbers are in each hospital.

What is the shortfall of nurses and doctors in each hospital?

What are the sickness and absence levels?

What number are on holiday in times of emergency, such as is now talked about?

Do they do like the police and cancel all leave in times of emergency?

More importantly, as they are quick to repeat the mantra of extra funding is needed then be transparent and tell us what it would be spent on.

If it’s needed to fulfil the shortage of nurses, doctors and extra beds then publish the costing figures for this.

Also is it not possible to ask for volunteers to move from hospitals that are coping well to ones that are not, albeit on a temporary basis with suitable remuneration.

One would hope that as this is a national issue that the government’s Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt would ask for or be provided with these details and figures.

Unfortunately, we do not seem to see questions and answers such as this in the press or media.

COLIN MOYES Harkwood Drive, Hamworthy, Poole