YESTERDAY I had need of the National Health Service.

From the arrival of the ambulance, through the accident and emergency unit and the emergency assessment unit everything was a glowing advertisement for what the NHS does best.

It was a rapid, caring and professional response to emergencies.

I would like to thank everyone who suffered me, including the nurse who said they were going to let me go home as she was sick of me peering out of the window like a prisoner planning an escape.

Dennis Clark, Billingham.