I WORK as a secretary to GPs, and know from the numerous referral letters I type, just how difficult it can sometimes be to make the right diagnosis with patients not always having the right set of symptoms for the illness they have.

On top of this, GPs only have a 10-minute slot in which to investigate, and this is often shortened by the patient's request for other conditions and even other family members' conditions to be investigated.

Add to this the fact that the health authority puts pressure on GPs to limit the amount of referrals and it is not difficult to see how things go wrong.

I sympathise with Dr Grant and can't help wondering if this is a case of horrendous bad luck rather than negligence.

Sally Mander

Evesham