Hospital patients should never have been made vulnerable to commercial exploitation by sales organisations of any kind.

The only lifeline they desperately need is medical treatment to return them to normal life ASAP, and reasonable means of communication for family and friends.

They do not need the expensive equipment of the likes of Patientline hanging over them, or the persistent attention of their sales people, which does not contribute to their recovery in any way.

Local communities can and would supply large screen TVs in today's small wards, which would be perfectly adequate, as they used to.

Patientline should be turfed out lock stock and barrel, and it should be made impossible for any other such operation to get in again.

We have no responsibility for their financial difficulties and any contracts signed by management should be their personal responsibility.

Do we want to see funeral directors, wheelchair suppliers, personal cleaners, Ladbrokes, McDonalds, home delivery Indian restaurants or Walls ice cream touting for business in the wards.

Why not?

George Appleby, Clifton, York.