Quality care, and it’s free!

Our NHS and A&E has come under fire for the chaos, waiting times and seemingly low staffing.

Today my dear wife Georgina suffered a severe fall at her care home and an ambulance took her to A&E at around 8.30am.

I arrived at 9.15am and already A&E was a heaving hive of activity. I never realised that the department was so large, long and heavily staffed with admin and nursing care. The numbers left me incredulous.

Georgina was regarded as “majors”, meaning a severe injury needing prompt care and prompt it was – totally outstanding.

Senior nurse George met me and showed me into her single-bed ward, giving privacy from the packed corridors and quickly-arranged BP tests, blood tests, chest and stomach X-rays, and checked the wound.

Then Doctor John arrived and immediately impressed. He was charming, patientcaring and young. Finally, mid-afternoon, Doctor Fenya, a specialist female “cuts” doctor, arrived and with Dr John performed the op in the room, taking an hour of precise, miniature stitches performed with skill, kindness and patience.

Georgina is blind and has memory issues, and the kindness given was deeply appreciated by me too. Finally, “frailty nurse specialist” Francesca came with departure info, advice on benefits and care home procedures – again informative and charming.

Yes, there are complex issues in the NHS, and it is “cash hungry”. I noted in my nine-hour stay the vast range of technical equipment and when the op occurred, the huge choice of dressings and allied products needed, which totally justified the NHS outlay – a learning curve for me. A brilliant team gave Georgina and I quality care despite the huge pressures – and it’s free! John Cole Portsmouth

Georgina is blind and has memory issues, and the kindness given was deeply appreciated by me too