Dear Messenger
With reference to the article headlined ‘Forum row’ in the April edition (Issue 50), the BCAF Co-ordinating committee is concerned that this report on the Quarterly Forum Meeting of 26th February was published despite the fact that no reporter from the Messenger was present at the meeting. The committee wishes to point out that the Quarterly Forum Meeting is open to all Burngreave residents who are able to draw their own conclusions concerning its conduct.
All documents issued at the meeting, including the Chair's report, are in the public domain and the minutes of the meeting, following their formal acceptance, are also available for public scrutiny. It would appear that on this occasion sources were not carefully checked and validated prior to publication. Is it possible to make an accurate diagnosis of a patient's true condition based merely on the hearsay of acquaintances?
John Mellor (Secretary), For and on behalf of the BCAF Co-ordinating Committee
The Messenger replies: The Messenger did have sources at the quarterly forum and had approached BCAT and BCAF for comment but no-one was available.