SIR I must reply to the gentleman who thought the Panorama programme re breast surgery care in Bradford was a waste of time and write in defence of the surgeon in question, Mr Robert Phipps.

I was one of Mr Phipps's patients at the time in question and what should have been a routine mastectomy taking about 40 minutes' theatre time took four hours.

I have later learned that my survival chance was less than three years, but thanks to Mr Phipps' surgery and the wonderful back-up service, I am still here six-and-a-half years later to write this letter.

When I read the headlines that a Bradford surgeon had been sacked for having bogus qualifications alarm bells rang, but after making inquiries I was reassured that this man was a fully-qualified surgeon but had lied on his CV regarding his consultancy.

OK, so he told a porkie on his CV. How many other people have lied at some stage on their CV?

Before I went to theatre the sister came to my bedside and whispered: "Don't worry, you have one of the country's finest surgeons doing your op."

If this is the case, and I believe it to be so, why doesn't Bradford Hospital Trust reinstate Mr Phipps and swallow its pride? I am sure all the hullabaloo was simply a clash of personalities.

Elaine Neale, Sherborne Road, Idle