"Personal comments on NHS service, especially at..."

As stated below, I was admitted into the SAU on 10th January, by ambulance having been referred there by my own GP. The admission and reception process, initial examination and subsequent transfer into Ward 100 followed swiftly into Ward 101 was all one could ask for. In the Ward I was treated respectfully by all the staff, medical and nursing and have no complaints at all concerning my time there. It is a great pity that the NHS and especially A & E departments are getting so much bad publicity from the press, including radio & TV. All the staff we have encountered do their job efficiently, without side or complaint and make the patient as comfortable as possible. My wife has had to be admitted into A & E several times in the past 12 months for stroke assessment, UTI treatment and eye treatment as well. In most cases she was transferred to Ward 232 or 233, and, in every case, she has been well cared for by all concerned; having to wait some 10 hours in A & E for a bed is not the fault of the hospital as inferred in the press; we well realise that you cannot guarantee having spare beds in specialist Wards available at all time of the day or night. The inferred overloading of A & E departments seems to be due to many people coming in for attention to minor injuries or illnesses, taking up valuable time of those on duty to cope with the more serious emergencies. I have personally made use of the 111 phone system on several occasions as well as using our local minor injuries & illnesses unit at Leek Moorlands Hospital We would both like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to all concerned for our treatment and care and hope it may continue thus for years to come.