The drive to improve older people's health is laudable, (Interview, page 18, 9 December 2004), and the achievements to date should be applauded.

National director for older people's services Professor Ian Philp says his aim is to move older people's services 'from the margin to the mainstream'. Considering how many of these services are provided by the private sector, I hope that it too will be welcomed to the debate on the future of services. Older people's health is not just about the NHS and the independent care sector was not even mentioned in the article.

Ann Mackay, director of community care, English Community Care Association