For someone who has been in the very privileged position of being able to publish her thoughts, views and opinions in a medium read by thousands each week, I was surprised by Jenna Walker's reaction to my letter.

Sorry Jenna, but you can't criticise and pontificate, and then throw a hissy fit and your toys out of the pram because someone has the audacity to disagree with you.

If the comment "Over to you Jenny" was a challenge to have a go, then I would be only too pleased to do so, but as I am neither young, free, nor single I probably wouldn't get a look in.

Furthermore, I think there are a couple of middle-aged and not so free and single columnists at The ET already. Like I said, to be able to air your views is a privilege, but when you are self centred and spout garbage you need to be able to handle the criticism.

I believe that Alan Swann has been doing this for many years, in terms of both handling the criticism, as well as spouting garbage.

In closing, I would like to thank you for your gracious nomination as an ET columnist now that you are stepping off your pedestal.

However, the biggest thank you of all is for telling us all which pubs and clubs you socialise in, so the rest of us can all avoid them like the plague.

Jenny "Funny" Bracken
via e-mail


Hospital franchise proposal concerns

At the Adult Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee of Cambridgeshire County Council, several councillors expressed concern at the proposal to put the services provided by Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, out to franchise.

A couple of members of the public from the "keep our NHS free" campaign expressed concern about the legality of the consultation procedure. The chairman promised a detailed response to their concerns in writing. Apparently, no further progress can be made on consultation until the Government has approved the proposal.

What are the odds that the Primary Care Trust will announce that the status quo is not an option and the public must decide on what sort of franchise they prefer?

According to Hinchingbrooke Hospital's management, the day-to-day budget is in balance. I have some sympathy with the Unison position, which is that the past debts have been partly caused by changes in government funding.

The Strategic Health Authority says that the NHS has funds in the East of England, so why can't the debt be written off or is this an opportunity to privatise the services against the wishes of many patients and staff members?

I expect to be told again that Cambridgeshire Older People's Enterprise (COPE) asked the wrong question, which happened when 6,500 members of the public signed our petition to save Lord Byron ward at Brookfields Hospital. I will be asking COPE's 2,242 members what they think of the basic idea of a franchise, because COPE believes in real consultation. Call 01223 364303 to join COPE for free.

Robert Boorman
COPE spokesman