Sir,-Westminster Health Care, the owners of Lynde House, should heed the old adage: when in a hole stop digging (letter from Tony Heywood, Chief Executive, June 21st).

Any organisation, good or bad, faces consumer complaints. The test of a good organisation is whether it can deal with them efficiently, fairly and graciously.

I have never had any doubt that a significant majority of Lynde House residents and their relatives, are perfectly happy with the home, as they should be with fees of between £700 and £800 per week.

The issue concerns a very unhappy and angry minority. Faced with a series of very serious complaints about treatment at Lynde House, the management denied everything, expelled or threatened with expulsion several complainants and attacked those, like me and church leaders and doctors in East Twickenham, who tried to get to the bottom of the problem.

The NHS, which regulated care homes, was persuaded to establish an independent inquiry.

It was conducted - in December and January - by Mary McLaren who was selected (by the NHS) because of her professional competence, expertise experience and independence.

I have been waiting ever since to receive the report but have been told, repeatedly, that its release was being blocked at the insistence of Westminster Health Care.

I now see that the company, which had privileged access to the report, is publicly attacking the report's author while preventing others from seeing it.

It is now absolutely vital, not least for the peace of mind of current residents and their relatives, that the report be published immediately.

If the report is critical, the company should apologise for its failings and explain how they are being rectified.

If the company disagrees with the findings it can issue a rebuttal. I have written to Alan Milburn, Health Secretary, demanding that he uses his powers to stop the continued obstruction.Dr Vincent Cable, MP (Twickenham), Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Trade and Industry.

July 9, 2002 12:00