IF you are told you must have a hip replacement operation would you prefer the surgeon to be eminent, highly skilled and very experienced? Or would any old trainee do?

As in most professions, the eminent guy gets to enjoy a larger salary because he deserves it. Hospital trusts, like football clubs, are keen to recruit the very best.

Sadly, a surgeon is paid a bit less than a professional footballer, even though the surgeon uses a scalpel whereas a footballer sometimes uses his teeth.

It could therefore follow that the more highly-paid staff a hospital has, the more skill and experience are contained therein. Hence headlines like “Salaries continue to rise at the top of the NHS”.

In this region, we are extremely lucky.

The James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and the Friarage, in Northallerton, are two of the best-run and most efficient in England.

Many thousands of people contribute to making our hospitals the efficient and welcoming places they are and, compared to some in other regions, makes me want to let the staff know we appreciate them.

Professor Tricia Hart, the chief executive of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, and its chairman, Deborah Jenkins, both put in many unpaid hours.

Both strive to make the available money work harder and the departments just that bit more efficient.

Instead of taking every opportunity (and I include The Northern Echo) to trumpet their failings, (which are few), just occasionally give them the credit to which they are due for their successes (which are many). If you do, you will get better service more cheerfully given.

One day, this might save your life. They saved mine.

Ivan Stephenson, Northallerton.