The DIY NHS

YEARs ago, when our young son fell from a tree, it took ten minutes for an ambulance to arrive. thankfully he wasn’t badly hurt.

this week, my 82-year- old sister fell down the stairs and banged her head on a radiator. After dialling 111, we were asked many questions about how it happened, her previous health problems and, surprisingly, if she had been horse riding or diving recently. All this took half an hour.

the operator then said my sister had to be checked over, but there was no available doctor at the local surgery or minor injury unit. We had to take her to a hospital ourselves. What a difference from years ago.

Mrs J. ROGERS, Gosport, Hants.