The Guardian reported on the findings of the Healthcare Commission audit of dignity in care standards for older patients at 23 trusts in England (No dignity for older patients on NHS wards, September 27).

The article said "Barts and the London NHS trust ... failed the dignity test and [was] issued with a formal warning". In fact the commission awarded Barts and the London the highest possible score in two of the three categories assessed - "ensuring that older people are treated with dignity when receiving care in hospital" and "assessing and meeting the nutritional needs of older people and helping them to eat if necessary".

The commission found that staff "were seen to treat patients with respect and to act to protect their dignity and that of other patients". They also found examples of good practice such as the provision of "do not disturb" signs on curtains to assist in ensuring patients' privacy.

In the third category - providing an environment that supports older people's need for privacy and confidentiality while in hospital - the trust was found to have some risk of non-compliance, particularly in relation to single-sex accommodation. We have not, as the article implied, been warned that we are already in breach of these standards. The Healthcare Commission asked members of the trust board to reassure themselves that we have practices in place to address the environmental issues it observed.

We have considered all of the evidence and are sure that we meet the required standards. Most of our patients are cared for in single-sex accommodation. The trust continues to work to improve provision; however, our ability to provide 100% single-sex accommodation is limited by the constraints of our older buildings. These will soon be replaced by world-class facilities with a high proportion of single- and two- bedded rooms.

We know what matters to patients of all ages because we make a point of asking them what they think of our services, and how we can improve. We also work closely with patient groups to address quality-of-care issues ward by ward. Our Patient and Public Involvement Forum writes independent reports on the basis of ward visits, and we develop action plans to address any issues raised - for example our nutritional group has worked with dieticians and ward staff to improve hospital nutrition.

Encouragingly, in the last national patient survey, nine out of 10 respondents told us they would recommend Barts and the London to others. Being treated with dignity and respect, regardless of age, is clearly critical to this opinion.

Ultimately, patients choose where to go for their treatment based on the advice and information they are given. It is therefore crucial that this is accurate and balanced. Barts and the London is one of England's top-rated teaching hospital trusts, achieving some of the best clinical outcomes in the country. It would be a great shame if your article deterred patients from some of the best care they can get.

· Keith Palmer is chairman of the Barts and the London NHS trust keith.palmer@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk