I WAS dismayed to read in Alf Clemo’s letter (Warrington Guardian, February 4) where he once again propagates the NHS misinformation that the staffing crisis is due to the ranks of doctors and nurses being denuded by agencies offering huge pay incentives.

This is factually incorrect and an insult to those health workers who have held an increasingly stressed NHS together.

Nurses will not strike, despite an attack on their working conditions and despite working in increasingly stressed wards, instead they can only leave to work elsewhere.

Witness the double digit turnover rates and inability to retain new recruits at our hospital.

Absence due to stress is high on wards with high vacancy rates (read the board papers if you have the stamina).

But what does the Government say? A BBC report by Lord Carter on bed blocking says there are massive savings to be made by ‘reducing staff absences and better management of shifts’.

It beggars belief. No wonder nurses are leaving the profession, no wonder junior doctors are emigrating to Australia. It’s not the money Alf, it’s the lack of concern for nurses, their health and wellbeing.

ALLAN RALSTON (Ex Warrington Hospital governor