"The brilliant service in the A&E Department."

I have had reason to be grateful to the NHS and its employees over the past 6 years or so. Firstly, diagnosed with bowel cancer. Five weeks radio and chemo therapy. Had ileostomy and a colostomy bag for 6 months.

Then ileostomy reversal and goodbye to the bag. The bowel cancer metastasised to the lung after a couple of years. Had lung operation. November 2016 received all clear and no need to attend for more tests.

End of Oct 2016 contracted Pertussis and having COPD the whoopig cough was a disaster. Three or four times thought I had met my maker. Nov was the worst and I found it necessary to resort to attending A&E but was not very confident that this would help much.

However, taxi to A&E and spoke to Reception. Quickly seen by a doctor and transferred to a cubicle where I changed into icu gown, blood sample taken, blood pressure monitored, ECG, temperature taken, oximeter reading, chest x-ray taken, arterial blood taken (ABG|) and doctor attended to take my medical history.

All in all, my wife and I were there for four hours and I was absolutely staggered by the friendliness, professionalism etc displayed by all the staff we had contact with .... absolutely over awed.

All the staff, including the reception staff, the  lady who did the rounds with tea & coffee, the nurses, the young doctor everybody. Fantastic.