I was disappointed to read the criticism of the excellent work carried out by Eileen Nixon and all other members of the nursing, medical and other clinical and support teams at Brighton General Hospital (Letters, July 6, 14 and 20).

Eileen is a nurse who has consistently improved the quality and standard of care experienced by patients who use the service within which she works.

One of the reasons the nursing care in her department is so good is because she and her team have sought to empower and involve patients in planning their care.

To be criticised for seeking patients' views (with their consent) in the development of improved patient services is illogical and unfair.

I am sure the irony of the comments made by these correspondents has not been lost on readers, given the recent media coverage of hospitals where the views of patients were ignored.

For correspondents to accuse our nurses of being "stupid" for seeking patient views or to suggest the NHS should wait and only "involve patients when the care is not good" is, at the very least, unhelpful.

These correspondents patronise Eileen (and nurses in general) by suggesting she is responding to coercion from management or her consultant.

This is simply not the case, although she has the support of both. I feel sure anyone who has experienced the excellent care offered within her department joins us in offering her and her colleagues their continued support.

-Karen Parsley, Director of Nursing, Brighton Health Care NHS Trust