Sir, You ran a report in your newspaper about a group of patients at Wallingford Medical Practice whose aim it is to put forward a patient point of view in order to improve communication between patient and practice and to widen the range of activities at the practice to meet local needs.

The group goes under the name of Patients In Partnership (PIP).

The practice has produced an informative newsletter introducing PIP and also setting out many aspects of the important work carried out at the practice. The newsletter is available to all patients who have email facilities.

However, many patients, especially the elderly, myself included, do not have email facilities and so there are copies available at the surgery on the PIP notice board or from reception.

One item that stands out in the newsletter is the fact that during the a recent quarter 595 appointments to see a GP have not been kept and some of these were booked on the same day, meaning that because of the ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude of 595 ‘not really ill’ patients, there could have been 595 ‘quite ill’ patients who had difficulty in procuring an appointment with a doctor of their choice. I am sure I will not be the only one to condemn such selfish actions.

PIP is anxious to get more patients involved in the group and welcomes comments or suggestions to enhance the service the practice provides. But there will be people, especially in my own village, who will find it difficult to contact the surgery but may have some useful comment or suggestion to make. Therefore, I would be happy to receive a telephone phone call, 201585, anonymously if preferred, and I will pass these comments on to PIP.

Gladys Sadler (Mrs) Honey Lane Cholsey