"Eternal and heartfelt thanks to surgeon and his team"

I am taking this opportunity to put pen to paper to express my eternal and heartfelt thanks to Professor Raut and all his surgical and nursing team at Wrightington Hospital for the sterling job they all do under certain pressures that the NHS inadvertently dictates.

I have had both total knee joint replacements performed this year in Wrightington Hospital under the auspices of Professor Raut and his team; the right knee in March and the left knee in July. There is no doubt whatsoever that the operation entails a great degree of skill and dexterity and I only have the highest praise for Professor Raut and his amazing surgical skills. The scars are now hardly visible.

It is sad that too many people are quick to criticise the NHS and highlight its faults. We all must remember that we have the best healthcare system in the world and with the added bonus that it is free of charge. I speak from experience, having traveled extensively worldwide and experienced at first hand the healthcare systems in several countries, which leave a lot to be desired! We have some of the most prestigious surgeons and doctors in all fields of medical expertise and our nurses are second to none.

In my humble opinion, surgeons and doctors like Professor Raut should be honoured more frequently, even to the extent of erecting statues to people of Professor Raut's calibre. Gold medals would not come amiss either!

Rather than bestowing honours on footballers, we should be encouraging the honouring of surgeons like Professor Raut who have dedicated their lives to giving disabled people the opportunity of a better quality of life.

Professor Raut's reputation precedes him: when I was in the Middle East I heard about Professor Raut and his excellent reputation. Furthermore, when I was visiting Spain, my doctor friend had also heard of the Professor.