“It also saddens me that almost any referrence to the Nimrod (be it the news or online) bangs on about the accident rate.”

Unfortunately it is inevitable, in view of the findings of the enquiry into the explosion in Afghanistan. And safety is, politically, the most important word, when publicly discussing anything military, so the discussion around the decision was predictable.

I remain unconvinced that we will see the MR4 and if not then the demise of the Nimrod, is, for me, finally the end of the Comet.

It’s Friday and it’s a lovely bright Spring morning.:)

1. A large proportion of the support is unskilled and clerical. And interestingly in amongst all the ONS material the growth in frontline medical staff is far less than that of management and admin over the last 5 years. And there are fewer beds available for in-patients. So something is going in the wrong direction.

2. I cannot see that I have made any assumption resembling that which you ascribe to me in your last paragraph.

Support staff are not medical staff, as are doctors, nurses etc, so we are playing with numbers, again.

You can argue it whichever way you like but the facts are clear, as I have set them out. Now if the NHS did not exist and our health service was provided by smaller autonomous groups then you would have a valid point. But it isn’t. If only it were – then we might not be having a debate about its effectiveness.

Bristol Rob, from your profile you sound like a friendly, easy-going, jokey young man. So, I hope you haven’t been taken in by a cyber-shark. They abound, I am afraid, and always sound very convincing.:)

Parts of Kent and northern France were taken Spring/early Summer last year.

There was a copy on ebay for about £45, but I think it was withdrawn.