"My first experience of the Ambulance Service"

I have been suffering pneumonia for the past three months and it is proving difficult to arrest. For the first time in 77 years I felt obliged to call the ambulance service at 4:30am on the morning of 24th December. I was in extreme discomfort from a severe pain somewhere around the right lung. I really thought I would not see Christmas Day.

An ambulance crew arrived within 30 minutes and transferred me and my wife safely to their vehicle.

With minutes I was attached to an ECG machine, blood samples taken, oxygen supplied and, best of all, a small shot of morphine which gave me hope that I would see Christmas Day. I was transferred from Roadwater to Musgrove with constant monitoring throughout the journey. On arrival at the hospital I was immediately transferred to a bed cubicle and seen by a charming and attentive nurse who hooked me up to an ECG machine and took blood pressure and further blood samples.

A doctor arrived within 15 minutes and was equally attentive and considerate. A chest scan was completed in 15 minutes and the doctor took great trouble to locate and study the previous notes from the specialist and determined what antibiotics had failed to work in the previous weeks. I left the hospital three hours later to return home in comparative comfort.

I cannot adequately express my appreciation and admiration for the care, attention, and skills displayed by all the NHS staff who looked after me that night.

I did ask each one their name but I regret that a dose of morphine has affected by memory. But I am certain that the same diligence and application applies to all the NHS ambulance crews and nursing staff.

I met Nye Bevan once. He never lived to witness what a wonderful humane service that he instigated.

Many many thanks.