SIR – Christopher Hindle believes one of the main causes of NHS inefficiencies and staffing issues at the BRI is because consultants and specialists are dividing their time between NHS and private patients (Letters, February 15).

But if there is any cause for complaint, it lies squarely on the shoulders of the thousands of people who fail to attend appointments, wasting precious clinical time.

And if BUPA stopped its patients using the BRI permanently the hospital would lose a six-figure annual income.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford