I was astounded by the cheek of Wendy Robson (The Argus, May 13) in demanding full maternity pay when she is effectively working as a freelance.

As a bank nurse, she has all the privileges not available to nurses on the staff of hospitals, such as higher pay and the ability to pick and choose where and when she wants to work.

I'm sure she works hard when she is at work but she is pushing her luck a bit to insist on receiving the same rights as staff nurses who have no alternative other than to report for duty when they are told.

The NHS needs more nurses on the staff of hospitals. It would be quite wrong for the British taxpayers to fork out on benefits for people who can simply phone in and give the health service a list of the days and times when it's convenient for them to come to work.

So get real, Mrs Robson. If you want all the benefits that come with the job, you first have to take the job.

-Eric Tanner, Brighton