THE Tories have been accused of "playing the race card" by the Liberal-Democrats. The reason for this political opportunism was that Dr Liam Fox, Tory Health spokesman, had the temerity to suggest that some overseas-registered doctors in the NHS posed a problem.

This was due to their "inadequate" language skills, so that in life and death situations, their standard of proficiency in English could be a vital factor.

On Monday, November 6, the Evening News reported that a Dutch-born WRI consultant had been struck off after the death of a patient. He said that as his English was not perfect, he did not understand the comment made to him by a fellow medic at the time of the disastrous operation.

F L JONES, Malvern.