College's reply: I am grateful to Dr Veasey (2000, this issue) for raising this matter. The College has to balance its obligations to members with its main purpose of raising standards in psychiatry. Sometimes this is a difficult balancing act. Members will be aware that Council has recently agreed to establish an External Clinical Advisory Service. This will offer expert external advice to NHS trusts on any psychiatric service which is not functioning effectively. Further details of the

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... , which will be of assistance to College members as well as protecting patients, will appear on the College's website. Dr Peter Snowden has been appointed Director of this service. You will be glad to know that the College has made a robust response to the recent Tilt Report and copies of this response will also be available on the College's website in the near future. VEASEY, D. A. (2000) Further comments on inquiry panels (letter). Psychiatric Bulletin, 24, 393.