The HSJ50 - the ranking of the 50 most powerful people in English health management policy and practice, published in last week's magazine - is very male and very white.

Only 13 women made the list, and only one person - top-ranked Lord Darzi - came from an ethnic minority. So more than two thirds of the list comprises white men. Many readers noticed, as this week's letters page testifies.

This outcome, which would be poor for any group of professionals, is particularly damning for the health service, not least because it is so sharply out of kilter with the make-up of the medical profession. It shows that all parts of the health service, from the Department of Health to trusts, have a lot to do to make the best of its talent.