"OUR aim has been to put the patient at the centre of everything we do," says the Primary Care Trust's chief executive Jan Stubbings, at the Priory Road Clinic, Park South (SA Wed July 27).

The doctors, nurses, practice managers and admin staff etc, of Priory Road Clinic will have the patient centred in their minds, but the PCT chief executive? I do not think so. Her job is "to ensure effective and sound financial management systems are in place," and "apply consistant accounting policies".

In other words, cut corners, trim budgets, close some hospitals and maternity units, and get things done on the cheap.

So the PCT chief executive's statement about putting the patient at the centre of things sounds disingenuous to me. It is the dedicated staff of clinics and hospitals which do that on meagre budgets.

J PLUMTREE

Wroughton