SIR – Some cynics say that doctors bury their mistakes.

What a chilling thought.

But the relationship of trust with the healthcare profession is a precious commodity.

They can be the difference between life and death, sickness and health and can hold the therapeutic key to quality of life.

We need to be able to openly communicate and confide in them.

So it is that near epidemic proportions of compensation claims carries its dangers.

Your article ‘Justice for patients – or compensation culture’ (Worcester News , September 5) showed that even here in the Faithful City millions are paid out in compensation by the Acute NHS trust for errors made in the county’s hospitals.

Fuelling the rush to law by those with a greviance is the complaints procedure within the NHS, a fact pointed out by former NHS consultant Dr Richard Taylor.

I have used the process several times and find it an unrewarding remedy.

Concerned patients usually just want an acknowledgement of their concern and sometimes something specific to be done but all too often a default defensiveness is adopted.

Claims can be a good thing, not only because they address damage but they also focus clinical vigilance.

But while patients want and should expect doctors and nurses to be on their toes, it is not in anyone’s interest that everything they do is with an imaginary lawyer looking over their shoulder as if every patient might be after their ‘blood’ in the courts.

Not to forget either that we have responsibility for our own health and where possible to do what we can to stay well.

Unfortunately, with the impact of ever rising demand on NHS services at a time of grave economic difficulty, the prognosis for litigation is not encouraging.

ANDREW BROWN

Worcester