Our hospital colleagues clearly demonstrate that your front-page headline "Bed crisis fear over winter flu" (The Argus, November 26) is a little disingenuous - in Brighton alone there are 14 intensive care beds, a further eight in the cardiac department and another two to be opened next year.

But the article did at least highlight the potential impact an outbreak of flu might have.

Flu is a highly infectious virus and the flu jab is the most effective form of protection yet some people who are eligible for the free jab have still not had it.

For the over-65s, flu can cause serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, often leading to hospitalisation or worse. Every year between 3,000 and 4,000 deaths are attributable to complications caused by flu.

Earlier this month the Chief Medical Officer issued a warning to doctors that flu is now circulating in some areas.

I would urge anyone who has not yet had their free flu jab to contact their GP.

-Dr Peter Wilkinson, Consultant in Public Health, Brighton and Hove City NHS Primary Care Trust