THE NHS, on the whole, does a good job but I think that some areas need changing for the patients' benefit.

For instance, why don't healthcare professional give patients with long term illnesses contact addresses for charities and groups that may ultimately help them?

I know quite a number of instances in which people have either been left in the lurch or had to try and search themselves for some help and advice from charities (which in some circumstances assisted them greatly).

Surely it is up to the health professional to forward any useful information to a patient, which will help their precise illness?

But, I'm afraid it seems that this does not happen very often.

A BAKER (Mr), Blackburn Road, Darwen.