I AM writing this letter became I feel that the true state of affairs concerning the NHS is not being considered.

The upper echelons of our political system have to rely on advice from others as they themselves are not versed in these matters. This advice is given by the wrong people.

The suggestion that "Foundation Hospitals" should be set up is bizarre and an avoidance ploy to avoid the real problems.

Many will be surprised to learn that the majority of NHS consultants are part time and work only part of the sessions available in NHS work.

This means that its senior medical staff are not really focusing on the problems which beset their hospital but are instead more concerned with earning vast income from private patients. Long waiting lists will, of course, encourage these patients to seek private care.

These amount, in my view, to a "your money or your life" type of activity. This could mean a year's wait as opposed to going along next week to see the same consultant privately and pay the large fees.

Senior consultants now earn more than a million pounds a year. This is particularly so in the surgeon and gynaecological specialists.

An informal talk with a firm of accountants will confirm these statements which may be underestimated.

Government injections of billions of pounds into the NHS will only increase this trend.

Senior medical staff should be leading their hospitals forward but the majority are too busy collecting their "30 pieces of silver" from all and sundry.

There should be no such thing as private hospital beds in NHS hospitals.

Consultants in private practice, now earning enormous amounts of money, should stop dragging down the NHS.

CHARLES ENTWISTLE,

Consultant Psychiatrist (retired),

Tibberton, Droitwich.