Sir — The responses to my original letter about the new pharmacy at the Bury Knowle Health Centre have been interesting.

The range of facilities which Dr Amery and his colleagues have gradually provided are deeply appreciated by all patients. and, indeed, the centre is much akin to those envisaged in the 1948 Act. However, the new on-site pharmacy is, in fact, a well stocked branch of a national chain of High Street chemists, operating in competition (unfair in my view) with local independent pharmacies. Hence Ms Renouf was right to crave continued and strong support for such excellent pharmacies as the Roundway, which we may lose without such support.

Martin Sheldon, Headington Quarry