THE NHS “listening exercise” closed last week and the assembled panel will now attempt to produce a coherent report from the diverse and conflicting submissions that are being shoehorned into one of four categories.

The questions for me are these: is it at all practicable to take a Bill that is so unfit for purpose, and amend it to a point where it will bring about positive improvements in the National Health Service; and, given that chief executives have been instructed to carry on restructuring the service (in spite of the pause) how genuine an exercise has it been?

For me the two most important aims of any health Bill are:

• Improve the quality of care and treatment outcomes;

• Control the cost of healthcare provision.

This Bill will do neither.

Instead of yet another reorganisation, and there have been many, the time should be taken to look around at other systems, take evidence from all credible sources, have a genuine dialogue with the public and health providers. Don’t rush it but get it right.

Chris Brace, Wheldrake, York.