Reading your report on the second annual forum of trust and health authority chief executives, I wonder: was I a guest at the same event?

I do not doubt that one of the 200 who attended made disparaging remarks about the NHS Confederation.

But to characterise the general feeling of the meeting towards the confederation as being that it is 'spineless and sycophantic' is inaccurate.

My perception of the mood of the meeting was entirely different.

Chief executives are beginning to see a real need for the interests of the management of the NHS to be represented to government.

They are quite properly asking themselves how best this can be achieved.

Feedback has told us that the vast majority know the most effective means is via the NHS Confederation. It is for the confederation to rise to that challenge.

Stephen Thornton

Chief executive

NHS Confederation