I NEED to correct Carole Tucker on points she makes regarding the Archbishop of York (Letters, June 24).

Looking at his diary for the past year, I can see that the most of the archbishop’s time was spent in the York Diocese; only 19 per cent of his engagements were in London.

It is inevitable that the archbishop will have to, on occasion, work from London.

Ms Tucker asks why the archbishop was treated for appendicitis in a London hospital, wondering if NHS care at York Hospital was not good enough. The archbishop generally would use NHS provision in York, and has spoken about the wonderful care and treatment he has received.

However, on May 25, the archbishop travelled to London in order to hear the address of Barack Obama to Parliament and to attend the memorial service for Lord Bingham.

After these events, the archbishop was taken ill and subsequent investigation showed he had a ruptured appendix which needed removing. The archbishop was admitted to St Thomas’s Hospital as this was the most local NHS hospital.

May I say how grateful the archbishop is to those who have sent messages of support.

Kerron Cross, Director of communications for the Archbishop of York, Bishopthorpe Palace, York.