CANCER patient Glyn Rees's story prompted many generous readers to offer to drive him to Newport for regular treatment that would ease his pain. His response is perhaps surprising: it is an expression of gratitude for the offers, but a polite refusal.

Why then, they may wonder, did he seek to publicise his plight in the first place? Mr Rees is in no doubt about that; it is not to throw himself on the kindness of strangers, but to highlight a more general problem.

As he says: "What happens in a few months when someone else has to fight to get there?" While Mr Rees's stand is admirable, he might be well advised to accept the offers because his need is urgent.

Meanwhile, the questions raised by his case deserve serious consideration. It would be ridiculous to suggest every sort of treatment should be available in every town and city hospital in the country. Some treatments are so specialist, or so rarely required, that they have to be provided in a small number of centres.

The problem, as in this case, is where it involves prolonged treatment over many weeks.