I, AND many others, fully concur with Linda Howard about the appointment system at Stockton Heath Medical centre.

It is the worst system I have ever encountered in trying to book and appointment, or even just speaking to a doctor. It urgently needs radical surgery.

One of the main problems is trying to get through to reception and as the phone lines are continually engaged. They need more staff to answer calls or a new system which can cope with a busy switchboard.

I have recently driven 12 miles to personally request that one of the doctors rings me but this simple request was refused point blank, only to be told that I had to ring back and make this request over the phone. Three days later I managed it.

Last week I had to contact my energy supplier who has many thousands of customers and a switchboard system at least as busy, if not more so, than SH Med centre.

My initial call was answered by an automated system, it that stated that it was they were very busy, but instead of holding on the line if I left my phone number no. the company would call me back in 11 to 19 minutes.

That, I thought, was wishful thinking, but 15 minutes later it they phoned back and I was then connected to the department concerned without any delay.

The doctors and nurses are excellent and most helpful when you can get through to them but the system in use is appalling and patients deserve better consideration.

T LEATHER Appleton