"In today's society when the NHS is constantly slated for its poor procedures and facilities this was a 5 star service"

I am an established user of the NHS having experienced care provision for patients in a variety of hospitals Nationwide over a time span of some 30 years.

I have been forced due to circumstance, as next of kin, to oversee care for a terminally ill child into adulthood and 3 elderly relatives, most recently my 90 year old mother who has undergone many operations and procedures during the last 20 years.

I could write a book on my experiences and maybe I will one day but my brief story today is in relation to the excellent care my mother received at the new Peterborough City Hospital.

What a fabulous facility which caters not only for patients but also for the visitors whose needs are often forgotten in the majority of our hospitals and care centres.

My mother was admitted to the A&E Department yesterday afternoon and the circumstances I believe are insignificant for the purpose of this posting.

I can only commend the staff for their diligence and efficiency in speedily handling the situation and most importantly communicating appropriately with myself as next of kin who was on hand to assist my mother who is in the early stages of vascular dementia.

They sympathetically dealt with all her needs both medically and practically and as a result of their thorough approach to the situation, I was able, through communication to have a meeting with the Consultant within a few hours of her admission and at this time an action plan was put into force with regard to my mother's care and she was kept comfortably situated in a well designed ward with sympathetic lighting and excellent facilities.

Today I received a telephone call from him to advise me of what progress had been made and details of her transference of care to another ward and the names of the contacts to speak to with regard to her care.

In today's society when the NHS is constantly slated for its poor procedures and facilities I felt it appropriate to set down basic events which led to a 5 star service.

I feel that by patients and relatives communicating correctly with the staff who are on hand to assist, so many problems hospitals are faced with could so easily be eradicated.

Well done to the team on A&E.