Letter: Customised care

Sir: The letter (19 July) from Dr N. H. N. Mills confirms my worst fears about the modern NHS. I would rather be a patient than a customer. As a patient I would expect, and at present get, compassion, kindness and understanding. A customer, however well-informed, is someone who expects to receive courtesy and interest only in proportion to his potential usefulness to the seller.

Yours sincerely,

J. M. POLACK

Bristol