Dear Sir,

I was appalled by the story of Mr Burden and his hospital letter (Oxford Mail January 29, P1).

You can easily tell hospital letters - they are marked private and confidential, and usually have 'Whistle' on the envelope – Royal Mail should have delivered it.

A few years ago I had a similar experience with my vital MedicAlert emblem.

Correctly weighed and stamped, three times Royal Mail refused to deliver it to MedicAlert – I ended up paying £30 for a new one.

My old one (which needed a new band – £10) was eventually returned to me eight weeks after posting – my compensation? Six first class stamps and a grovelling apology for non-delivery.

Yes the Nuffield Orthopaedics Centre (NOC) got it wrong on this occasion – but boy, oh boy! So did Royal Mail – it was obvious it was a hospital letter.

I hope they reimburse him big time, so should the NOC.

Fortunately my NOC letters have been OK.

What a fiasco! Poor man.

Dot Holloway

Wenrisc Drive

Minster Lovell

Witney