Letter: Balkan dilemma

Sir: One of the trials of a GP's life is to be lectured every few months by a functionary called the Medical Advisor (sic) about Value for Money, Evidence-Based Medicine (previously Caprice-Based Medicine), Medical Audit, Clinical Governance and suchlike modish codswallop.

It is to hoped that the Government, before embarking on its current venture in the Balkans, took the trouble to ascertain that cruise missiles are the Best Value way of killing Serbs, rather than ground attack, smart bombs, gassing etc, and that the results will be properly evaluated by the Audit Commission after the conflict.

Otherwise the money may just as well be squandered on hospitals, schools, roads, etc.

Dr RICHARD GRIFFITHS

Llanfyllin, Powys