David Halpin, of Haytor, writes:

Roy White's letter of October 10 needs a response.

I am very glad to hear that his dear wife was cared for so well at Torbay Hospital, as well as by her GP surgery.

In speech and in newspaper articles I have said: 'When we lift up the sick and weary, everyone is lifted up'. So when we hear of the care given to his Pauline, we are indeed all lifted up.

He asks whether I 'like the NHS'. I can assure him that I love the concept of it, and its reality. Without it, millions of people without big bank accounts would be very distressed when they came to need medical care. I have done my best to speak up for our NHS and against it being a political football for all incoming governments. They mostly inflict their dogma and their ignorance on the service.

I served as a doctor and surgeon for 40 years.

As for IS, it is not my duty to suggest a solution. The mayhem is a direct result of the war on Iraq which millions of us opposed vehemently, knowing it was based on pretexts plucked from thin air.

Some quietening might result if Britain turned to lawful action. It has instead conspired to overthrow the government of Syria, causing over a million to flee their homes. It has helped to destroy a thriving economy.

Military commanders from 20 countries have just met in Washington.

Those from Syria, one of the two countries being bombed, were not there. Neither were its allies Iran and Russia. Is that the way one defeats IS?

Mr Biden, US vice-president, said the other day that 'Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar ... had provided funds and arms to ISIS and other extremist groups in Syria ...' These are Britain's friends of today.

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