There have been protests across the country against the downgrading and closure of accident and emergency and maternity units.

Prof Kerr called for a new network of community hospitals which would see treatment delivered by GPs, nurses and paramedics.

However, it is proposed that patients will have to travel to specialist hospitals for most surgery.

We asked for your views on the future of the NHS in Scotland. The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we received.

As a senior and specialist nursing sister I can say, with the benefit of a great deal of personal experience, that we urgently need a return to basic standards of care and above all hygiene in our hospitals, and I couldn't agree more about staff wearing uniforms in public. Dreadful. I only trained 18 years ago and I would have been disciplined if I'd been seen outside the hospital in a uniform. Within the hospital itself it would help if managers (too concerned with getting the numbers down on waiting lists instead of quality and safety), communicated with frontline staff, took note of their opinions and their concerns and did not make decisions without consulting the people who are directly affected by them. A radical change is needed, led by clinicians, not politicians.
Concerned NHS employee, Kilmarnock

I want an NHS that pays its nurses what they DESERVE and not what is nothing more than am insult.
Paul, Motherwell, Lanarkshire

I want an NHS were I don't have to wait six months for an appointment (which will probably be for a date six months after that!) to see a specialist about a condition which is making my life misery. I pay for the NHS, so why can't I be seen when I *need* to be seen?
A, Glasgow

Gill from Blairgowrie, do you not realise that doctors have homes to go to and families to see as well? Why should they have to work evenings and weekends? If you wish that sort of service pay privately for it!!!
Graeme, Edinburgh Scotland

Get rid of the managers and put in a retired staff nurse or doctor.
Patricia Philip, Aberdeen

That Inverclyde Royal Hospital be retained as a "Blue Light Hospital" and that the Consultant-led maternity unit, along with paediatric services, be returned from the RAH in Paisley.
Roddy Boyle, Gourock

Let's put the life-saving before the convenience factor. It's nonsense to complain about 15-mile bus rides when our specialist centres are crying out for basic diagnostic equipment, such as up-to-date MRI scanners.
Ming, Edinburgh

NHS Fife propose to close the A&E department at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, and make it a minor injuries unit - transferring all emergency care to the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. I have first-hand experience of how busy the A&E department at Dunfermline can be, there are often no beds available in the hospital and patients can lie for hours in the department whilst waiting for one. Yet NHS Fife thinks downgrading is right for Fife - I think not.
Concerned relative, Dunfermline, Fife

I would like to see the return of hospital laundries and for all staff to be forbidden to wear uniforms in public - surely this would go a long way to combat infections such as MRSA.
Janice Craig, Ayr

I want to be able to get an appointment with my GP without having to wait for two to three weeks.
Fraser, Glasgow

I work in Springburn as a GP and have done for 15 years. The health record of the area is atrocious and life expectancy levels are dropping instead of rising. Where is the investment going that is needed? There is no significant change for the better in the way my patients are treated. One of the few bright spots in this area is the excellence of our local hospital Stobhill and this looks condemned to be downgraded to an outpatient facility only.
Iain G Brown, Glasgow

I want to pre-book a doctor's appointment without it being weeks in advance. My surgery has recently turned to this stupid new system where you have to call between 8am to 8.30am to get an appointment only for that day! Working office hours Monday to Friday makes this virtually impossible for me. Why can't we have late night bookings, or bring back Saturday morning appointments? What are these doctors being paid for? The out of hours service is just as bad, I had to travel nearly 30 miles for a doctor at the weekend. I'm lucky I have transport, some people are not so fortunate and live even further away.
Gill, Blairgowrie, Perthshire

NHS Fife proposes to close the A&E department at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, and make it a minor injuries unit. Transferring all emergency care to the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. I have first hand experience of how busy the A&E department at Dunfermline can be, there are often no beds available in the hospital and patients can lie for hours in the department whilst waiting for a bed. Yet NHS Fife thinks downgrading is right for Fife...I think not!
Concerned Relative, Dunfermline, Fife

Where I live, near Loch Tay, there is very little in the way of NHS services at all so I would like a return to the pre-Labour period. I am a diabetic and have not been able to get a diabetic clinic appointment for three years (my latest appointment for 30 May has been cancelled 'due to staff shortages' until November, maybe).

There are no dentists so I haven't been to a dentist since moving here four years ago (my daughter in nearly five and has never been to a dentist. Our local GPs only work part-time now so there is no cover (except the pathetic NHS 24) outside of 9-5.

I have written a long letter to the Scottish Executive outlining the severe health problems I have but all I received in return was the reply 'your comments have been noted'. What an utter shambles!!!
Fergie Meek, Killin, Scotland

Would it be so difficult to have an NHS whose main aim is to ' care' for those who are poorly? Not only have we recently heard of appalling 'care' of our elderly in hospitals coupled with MRSA killing thousands and now discrimination of smokers who they plan to 'evict' from NHS grounds should they wish a cigarette in the 'fresh' air! What exactly are they hoping to achieve?
Eleanor Quinn, Edinburgh

It is about time that the exorbitant amount of middle management is removed from the NHS so that all the money being spent on managers managing managers can be ploughed back into the core responsibility of the NHS, that is taking care of the patients.

Local hospitals are a must in this day and age especially for A&E and Maternity units. Will it have to take a mother and child to die before local maternity units are re-opened?
Bill, Dundee

With contracts for IT (and no doubt other services) in the NHS being given to American companies and contracts being signed by incompetent trust management who only understand bottom line profits (and not the needs and requirements of the day to day efficient running of the NHS, including patient service and care) it will continue to falter and fail. False economies are commonplace with short-term cost reduction being the focus.
Suzanne, Epsom, Surrey

I would like to be able to get appointment with my GP without being told they have nothing for at least 5 weeks.
Lynda, Hamilton, Strathclyde

I want an NHS that doesn't go out of its way to provide care to addicts, idiotic young mothers and wastes of space. Hmm, I guess I want an NHS that looks after those who pay for it. Wow, what a crazy concept.
Mark, Glasgow

The NHS as it currently stands is inefficient. We should all be expected to contribute to the cost of the NHS, not as another stealth tax but separate from NI contributions and general taxes. Local healthcare services and research should be given priority, perhaps with private funding supporting the service.
Sandy, Edinburgh

Inverclyde Royal Hospital. In addition to the hospital's current roles, RETURN the maternity unit to the IRH.
Bob, Gourock, Inverclyde

Make the health service more appealing to staff - get rid of the bureaucrats and clean the hospitals. Also make nourishing menus.
Frank Joseph Lacon, Manchester, England