Impressed with NHS experience

I recently spent two weeks in The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital - two unexpected weeks.

I got up one Saturday morning feeling perfectly OK. I drove to Newtown in Powys and within two hours I was being rushed by ambulance back to the RSH.

The purpose of this letter is not to discuss my illness, but to praise what I saw of the NHS during my stay in hospital. This was a whole new experience for me never having been seriously ill before.

Like everybody else I was hearing what a mess the NHS was in, no beds, nurses being paid too little, doctors being paid too much.

I have nothing but the highest praise for everybody I came into contact with, consultants, doctors, nurses and the ladies that brought our meals. Not forgetting the lady that did the cleaning.

I spent most of my stay in the Coronary Care Ward. I had so many tests I lost count and even a couple of operations, again from excellent staff.

Even my GP, Dr Mehta from the Hodnet Medical Centre kept in touch with my wife during my time in hospital, which was very reassuring. A

nd last, but certainly not least, the Welsh Ambulance Service who like everybody else were so professional in dealing with this novice patient. I can not praise all of them enough.

Finally, I would like to say during my time at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital I didn't see one politician. So I would say politicians stay away from the NHS - you are killing it. Let the people who work in it run it. It's what they do all day, every day.

Graham Oldham, Market Drayton