I WISH to record how good the concept of the NHS Direct is. We used it when we were staying with relatives in York and sought advise on a skin complaint on my son's hand.

The service offered was very good and avoided the need to seek advice from the casualty department at York District Hospital or clutter up a doctor's surgery.

This is one of the Government's welcome initiatives to afford greater accessibility to NHS, particularly in a city such as York which has a lot of visitors who simply need advice in respect of a medical problem when they are away from their own GP or medical centre.

Labour's plans for the NHS are beginning to have effect and, given more time and another period in office, we shall see the benefits of the extra spending promised by Gordon Brown.

William Whiting,

Whittingham Road,

Halesowen,

West Midlands.

Updated: 10:40 Thursday, April 26, 2001