SIR – As chairman of Bradford Community Health Council, I met regularly with the chief executive of BRI, and was able to visit – without prior appointment – any ward or hospital department where we had been notified of any failings.

We employed a full-time complaints officer. We highlighted gaps in provision for suffering drug addicts (though in this case, we were not able to secure any improvement in such services).

When CHCs were abolished, they were replaced by the curiously-named PALS service, a spineless, toothless body, which has none of the powers of CHCs.

England should follow the Welsh lead, and re-establish CHCs. They are needed more than ever, to protect patients from the Government’s swingeing cuts regime.

Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford