SINCE its inception in 1948 I have always been led to believe that the most important person in the National Health Service is the patient.

This respected principle appears to have been ignored by those responsible for the forthcoming closure of the West Oxford Health Centre (Oxford Mail, February 2) and I strongly urge them to reconsider their decision to deprive the residents of West Oxford of this valuable service.

I would also remind them to take into account the huge difficulty in accessing the new facility now being built in Walton Street.

DAVID WALKER, South Street, Osney, Oxford