HAVING had recourse to the National Health Service several times over the last few years, I decided to use my latest experience as an objective exercise and try to make sense of the invariably bad publicity handed out on a daily basis.
My GP made his assessment of the situation and eight days later I had the first of several CT scans over a number of weeks at The University Hospital of Hartlepool.
I also had other uncomfortable and potentially traumatic procedures carried out at The University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton.
The resulting confirmed diagnosis meant I was admitted for an urgent operation - some nine weeks after my initial GP appointment - after which I was looked after in Ward 28 at North Tees and was discharged some days later.
Having observed all that went on I must praise everyone - my GP for his rapid referral, the consultant surgeon and his team, the nurses who made me laugh and handled some scary moments with few words but a lot of professionalism, and the cleaning staff who left a thoroughly clean ward in their wake.
My considered opinion is that there is not much wrong with the NHS except perhaps politics and politicians.
BE Cooper, Sedgefield, Co Durham.
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