Letters

It was refreshing to read the excellent article 'Calling a bed a bed' (pages 3133, 5 March) and to learn of the efforts being made to clarify and simplify the terminology used within the NHS on what appears to be an almost routine basis. How disheartening to find in the very next pages an otherwise worthy feature describing great strides being made in the field of community psychiatry in Staffordshire, but including phrases such as 'managed care pathways', 'discrete service steps', 'penetration rate referrals' and 'propensity to admit'.

While appreciating that this article was aimed at NHS professionals rather than the general public, surely the desire for jargon-free speech should be aimed at all NHS communication?

It would appear there is still a long way to go.

Martin Garvey, Community Health Services trust, Southern Derbyshire.