Letter: Kindest cut

THE LETTER from P H Griffiths and E Baker of Guy's and Lewisham Trust (28 June) regarding the cardiac surgery on a small child made me very angry.

In the 1960s, when this type of operation was in its infancy, surgeons operated on children while they were still relatively fit. To suggest that it is all right to wait until they reach emergency status renders them more at risk from surgery, and more time is spent in hospital recovering.

This practice is not cost effective and causes parents and relatives untold heartache. No wonder this family chose to pay]

R Smith

London SE22