I WAS dismayed to read the article "Patients face 12 hour wait in A&E."

This was not only completely untrue, it also undermines the superb efforts of staff who worked so hard over the holiday period to ensure patients were seen as quickly as possible.

It is true we were busy over the Christmas period. Even so, we saw the vast majority of patients within four hours. Many were seen in less than an hour. No patient had to wait 12 hours or more.

It is also true that some patients came to A&E with minor injuries or complaints, but we did not blame them for causing delays and they were seen as quickly as possible.

It is wrong to suggest we are busy at this time of year because people have colds and we never once claimed we had unprecedented number of sick people.

I am also disappointed that Kevin Brandstratter of the GMB criticised our staff.

The trust has a major incident policy which would have been activated, had there been the need, to manage it professionally and safely.

The Great Western Hospital has a team of professionals who work very hard to provide high levels of healthcare. There are times when circumstances decree that we don't always get it right but most of the time we do.

S ROWLEY

Directors of Operations

Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust

Editor's note: The error over the length of delays was due to a misunderstanding of the information we had been given and we apologise for any wrong impression created.