Michael Owen

Medicalising normal human conditions is unscientific.

Writing in response to a learning zone article (May 2) on the assessment and treatment of patients experiencing anxiety, David Lee (letters May 16) asks if we are medicalising a range of normal human conditions.

A head start on mental health

I was pleased by prime minister Theresa Mays remarks about addressing the huge problems in mental health (news online, 9 January). Tackling stigma, as well as other issues, is more likely to succeed if begun at an early age.

Unions’ silence is palpable

Graham Scotts editorial on nurse morale (22 March) makes for sad reading. We have to consider why the junior doctors achieved so much in terms of a massive pay rise and improved conditions of service?

I'm saddened by statue debate.

Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale would have been saddened by the continuing arguments within the profession and the media over the relative prominence of their statues and which of them has the greatest legacy (news, 29 June).

Children are being let down by their mental health provision.

Dean-David Holyoake says there have been problems with the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) since it was founded in 1995 (Reflections January 7).

RCN faces challenges over rising inequalities within profession.

It is difficult to understand why the RCN will not join colleagues in the Royal College of Midwives and other health unions in balloting members on industrial action (Editorial and News July 30). Is the RCN fearful of the outcome should the response be a yes?

Jane Bates is right: it is natural for nurses to meddle in health matters.

I enjoy Jane Bates’s columns. She writes that nurses just cannot help meddling in other people’s business: ‘It is what we do’ (reflections July 3). I recently asked an acquaintance about his baby boy. He said: ‘Oh, he’s great. But we are not sure whether to take him for his vaccinations.’ When I asked why, he said there was nothing wrong with the child and a friend had told them that some babies became ill after vaccinations and he had advised them not to have any. Feebly, I suggested he talk to the health visitor or clinic staff. I also mentioned the low take-up of the MMR vaccination in parts of the UK and the subsequent measles epidemic. He then said they had not seen a health visitor and the vaccinations were already overdue. No one had contacted him about this. I was left thinking, do I say more, or am I just meddling?

An ombudsman would encourage nurses to report concerns

The events at Winterbourne View residential home and failures on the part of the NHS to take up concerns about Sir Jimmy Savile (news October 31) are evidence that whistleblowing policies are not working.

The entry gate to nursing must be kept as wide as possible

I fully support Nursing Standards emphasis on opening up opportunities in health care for people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (Black History Month special issue October 3).

Nurses should get back to what they do best – nursing patients

I am sure many nurses will agree with prime minister David Camerons observations and comments about the nursing profession ( news January 11 ).