Letters in the Press
Letters in the Press
A Collection of My Letters in the National Print Media
The National Press provides a daily flow of interesting articles, commentaries, editorials and correspondence which touch on many issues in our personal and professional lives. Inevitably, the richness and diversity of the facts and opinions relate to my own lifetime of insights in clinical, surgical and medicolegal practice; in military and national strategic matters with particular reference to the late 20th and early 21st centuries; and in the quality assurance of academic publication globally.
My news feeds and contemporary reading have been particularly enriched through a subscription to The Economist since 1980 and through reading the UK broadsheets, but particularly The London Times since my schooldays.
The letters columns of these publications are widely read by informed and influential readers. They therefore provide a very valuable route to reaching key influencers in many walks of life and in the higher echelons of the Civil Service and “The Establishment”.
I have found the editorial team at the Times Letters office to be particularly accommodating of my contemporaneous observations in response to articles in their newspaper. I am very grateful to them for access to their electronic publishing window to the wider world for selected missives from the larger collection of rejects.
Letters are triggered unpredictably by articles on which I have specific knowledge or particular concerns. The art of effective letter writing lies in contemporary commentary in a concise style with an interesting and sometimes challenging perspective, and an effective use of the rich English language and history.
In this context, I have been prompted to re-publish a selection of these letters, and the context in which they have been written.
David Rew, March 2026
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2026
The Times, 31st August: Headlight DazzleView Here
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The Times, 9th May: Bare-knuckle cheekView Here
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The Times, 24th February: Call on Ex-RegularsView Here
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The Times, 24th January: Trump’s affront to UK troops in AfghanistanView Here
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2025
The Times, 24th November: Scepticism over claims made about CovidView Here
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The Times, 16th July: The Cost to the NHS of patients unhealthy lifestylesView Here
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The Times, 5th May: Harry and the KingView Here
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The Times, 9th April: Military service and Britain the warrior nationView Here
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The Times, 16th January: Failure to act on inquest advice blamed for thousands of deathsView Here
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2024
The Times, 20th November: Farmers’ campaign to save a way of lifeView Here
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The Times, 21st October: Reform of the NHS and boosting productivityView Here
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The Times, 20th August: Over-diagnosis in the mental health sectorView Here
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The Times, 11th July: Defence spending and the Regeneration of Territorial Defence ForcesView Here
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2023
The Times, 9th December: Rwanda plan, the law and Rishi Sunak’s futureView Here
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The Economist, 7th October: I Robot Scientist: A WarningView Here
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2022
The Times, 22nd June: The Future of WarfareView Here
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2021
The Sunday Times, 12th September 2021: Tractor tyrants, cheap CBEs, and the backlash beginsView Here
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2019
The Times, 7th October: The Future of HousingView Here
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The Times, 18th September: The Continuing Fall Out from BrexitView Here
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2018
The Sunday Times, 14th January: NHS efficiency suffers from a rash of data rulesView Here
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2012
The GOAN Everyday, 13th October: Use Your Head, Wear HelmetsView Here
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2010
The Sunday Times, 12th September: Duty of care to Afghan and Iraq VeteransView Here
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2008
The Sunday Times, 12th October: Long Term Outcomes in AfghanistanView Here
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2004
The Times, 8th January: Predictive Sexting, UR awfulView Here
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