YOU report the appointment of Sir Malcolm Grant to be Chancellor of the University of York (The Press, November 29).

Sir Malcolm has had a distinguished career in public service, being at present the chair of NHS England (previously the NHS Commissioning Board). But a peculiarity of his present position emerged at the time of his appointment in October 2011.

Asked by members of the Parliamentary health select committee to demonstrate his passion for the NHS, he replied “I find it difficult to demonstrate because I am not a patient of the NHS.”

Some people found his appointment to head an organisation of which he had no personal experience odd, to say the least.

Let’s wish him well in his new and prestigious position in York, and let’s hope he can bring to it rather more relevant personal experience than he brought to the day job.

John Heawood, Eastward Avenue, Fulford, York.