LETTER: Get rid of poor health education

From Mr Donald Reid

Sir: If social factors such as male unemployment have such a large effect on teenage health ("Children today are 'healthier but less happy' ", 22 September), then groups such as Healthcare 2000 ("NHS is told: charges or cuts", 19 September) which are worried about rising healthcare costs should stop advocating dismantling of the NHS.

Far better to argue for increased efforts to eliminate causes of ill health, including poor health education, so reducing NHS costs and leaving us all healthier and wealthier in the long run.

Yours faithfully,

Donald Reid

Association for Public Health

London, NW1

22 September