Crown Heights Surgery came in for a bit of a battering (Letters, Thursday, January 25) for its apparent poor communication, but its reputation was rescued by high praise in the same letter. This is euphemistically known as ‘damning with faint praise', so permit me to ease the pain even further.

Frustratingly, communication with the medical team these days is often only via a telephone consultation. Last week, I had two appointments. One involved a detailed discussion with a practice nurse at Old Basing Health Centre. Later, I had cause to raise other health concerns with a doctor at Crown Heights.

I am pleased to say that the two sessions left me feeling remarkably better and I gratefully acknowledge the efforts that were taken to put my mind at rest. Telephone consultations will never totally help patients, but the unusual aspect of these two events was that they both took place FACE-TO-FACE.

There is no substitute for human contact – a veritable tonic for which no prescription is needed.

Hugh Sawyer, 

Foyle Park, 

Basingstoke 

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