Letters

We were delighted to see your informed coverage of the workforce planning review, A Health Service of All the Talents, and the associated proposals ('The devil is in the detail', features, pages 18-21, 1 June). But one error could have misinformed the current debate about the review.

In our report we do not say that specialists would be 'sub-consultants' or that they would report to 'consultants who would play an overseeing role'. We stress that these are fully trained doctors who would take full responsibility for the care they provide to patients.

We are, however, suggesting that we need to re-think some of the ways specialist medical care is delivered, and therefore some variations to traditional titles and ways of working.

We are pleased that the report has opened up a debate on these issues.

Martin Staniforth Deputy director human resources NHS Executive Judy Hargadon Chief executive Barnet HA