THANK you for your front page article in Tuesday’s edition of the Bolton News, ‘Unhealthy’ Practice.

This seems to have explained to me why although I knew someone who had had a bunion removed on the national health a number of months ago, I was told at my group practice in Lever Chambers that bunions could no longer be referred and were now regarded as self-management.

This, despite the fact that it bleeds if left unprotected and is annoying when I am trying to keep fit playing tennis or table tennis.

Short of taking a hacksaw to it, it will now cost over two grand to have it fixed. So much for a lifetime’s national insurance contributions and tax.

Maybe now, having read your article, I could have suggested making my own financial incentive to the surgery to be referred, or would that kind of bribery be seen as unethical or even illegal when the boot is on the other foot so to speak?

Perhaps I should become a couch potato and probably develop diabetes and a heart condition. Would that be cost effective to the national health service as a whole?

That’s enough moaning and negative thinking for today. It can seriously damage your health.

Roy Caswell

Beverley Road

Bolton