Sir - As a medical student who has worked part-time as a health care assistant at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre for the last year, I would like to add to the praise directed at the hospital, and the fears for its future (Report, April 4).

In addition to its proven clinical excellence, the staff at the NOC are a joy to work with. They are dedicated, conscientious and professional, and cultivate a uniquely friendly, patient-centered atmosphere which is renowned locally, nationally and internationally.

The NOC is truly a jewel in the crown of the NHS, and if it is taken over by a private company or by another NHS trust, I hope to God the managers have the good sense to recognise when they're on to a good thing, and conserve its staff, its culture and its work.

Daniel Emlyn-Jones, Oxford