Letter: Still impotent? Blame Labour
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.YOUR ARTICLE, "You're too old for sex at 40..." (15 February) regarding the rationing of impotency treatment for middle-aged men highlights the difficulties faced by GPs forced to ration healthcare in an underfunded NHS.
The costs of treating a man with injections for impotency (assuming sex twice a week over a year) is over pounds 800. That some patients can obtain this treatment and some cannot, depending on where they live or who treats them, is due to the unfair system in which doctors work.
The fact is that at present individual GPs, and in the future larger groups of GPs in primary healthcare groups, will continue to make decisions about the rationing of healthcare which some sections of society find arbitrary, unfair or difficult to accept. In a fair system rationing of what the NHS can or cannot afford should be done centrally and openly. However, it is my view that the Government, having inherited convenient scapegoats for the failure of NHS funding, do not have the courage to address this.
Dr PM Spowage
Colchester, Essex
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments