ONCE again, the deplorable state of the NHS comes under scrutiny with the vote of no confidence against the General Medical Council. But amid all the headline-grabbing criticisms, screams for new controls and spin-induced blame-shifting, aren't we missing something more than obvious?

Despite we're-your-friend questionnaires and suspiciously overzealous looks of concern on politicians' faces, why aren't patients allowed to complain without the fear of being struck off?

I've heard of too many examples of people simply requesting their own doctor at weekends and being stuck off for the inconvenience caused.

There are plenty of good doctors -- I have no doubt of that. But in every other organisation and business, the customers are allowed to complain, for then mistakes are rectified. Isn't it insane for this not to exist when people's lives are at risk?

However, this would mean we would see the true amount of mistakes doctors make and we wouldn't want to damage Labour's NHS more, would we?

So come on, GMC, if you want your credibility back, give the patients a voice.

J. PRESTON, Darwen (full address received).