SIR - I feel Mike Priestley is, uncharacteristically, paranoid in his North of Watford (T&A, January 19), saying the request for details of one's ethnicity was racist.

Many times such a request may be, but I think not in this case.

It should be of great help to the NHS bosses to see how answers vary across each and every ethnic make-up in our society, and each and every one will be given the same amount of study and analysis in attempts to improve services for all.

Philip Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley