I am afraid I would have to disagree with Tom Brake MP when he states that the amount of doctors in England has increased by 2,642 (Committed t protect our NHS, Your Say, January 24). In the figures he does not show how many people have left the NHS.

The part of the NHS I worked in for some 40 years may have improved with technology, but has had people leaving in droves. This is partly due to the fact that staff leave and are not replaced (Government figures on how many staff cuts are needed over a five year period to balance the budget cuts).

This is compounded by the fact workload is increasing by 11 per cent per year (the last figure I was told before I retired) hich means more work with less staff, leading to more stress.

The only concern seems to be about budgets and figures and how to keep the Department of Health happy.

T W Selby
Carshalton