• I HAVE been reading so much of the National Health Service being its 70th anniversary year, it suddenly made me think of the week in March in University College Hospital in Euston Road.

I had to see my doctor as I had not been at all well for a few days. He examined me and gave me a letter to take to the hospital. Another check-up, I thought, as the doctor at my surgery did not tell me what was wrong.

On my way home from shopping I thought I’d better go to make this appointment. I carried on to the hospital and was so shocked to be told that I had pneumonia.

I was taken in that day to a ward and the doctor was so kind and phoned my daughter who lives 50 miles away to let her know.

I cannot speak well enough of the wonderful staff who looked after me day and night. When the time came a week later for me to go home, my daughter came for me. I told her that I had had such a lovely week, I didn’t really want to!

After I was home, I sent the ward a card to thank them for my care and attention. It could not have been better.

After about two weeks I got a phone call to ask me if I would tell them over the phone what I had thought of my care. Of course, I did and when I had finished, whoever spoke to me thanked me, as they do not have such kind words said to them.

I was very pleased they had received my card. Also, after thanking me, within a couple of days I received a gift token from them for £25 to spend on food. I was delighted.

This contrasted with an earlier stay at a different hospital. The doctors were wonderful, but not the nursing staff. When the doctor told me I could go home, that time I was delighted. I told the ward sister but she just ignored me. And I was ignored as I left.

FLORENCE LOTE,
WC1