THE morning post held better tidings for patients awaiting heart surgery today. In a previous letter, they were told their operations were being put off because North Yorkshire Health Authority could not afford them.

Now the authority has written to apologise, stressing that surgeons are to proceed with surgery "in accordance with normal clinical practice".

This looks like a victory for the principle that doctors should run the NHS for the benefit of patients, rather than for accountants. Nonetheless, we will keep a close eye on when these operations take place.

Updated: 11:03 Friday, February 08, 2002