IT'S touching to read the testimony of Pauline Moore's family. Sadly, Mrs Moore died last month from cancer of the oesophagus, having been diagnosed only in mid-September.

But her son Paul wrote to the Evening Advertiser asking us to highlight the compassion and professionalism shown by nurses and other staff at the Great Western Hospital care so notable that Mrs Moore was happy to spend her last few days in the hospital rather than moving to a hospice.

At the Evening Advertiser we make no apology for reporting unflattering stories about the hospital, and indeed any other publicly-accountable body in Swindon.

It's part of the newspaper's role as a watchdog of the community.

But we are happy to relay the good news too.

While our deepest sympathy is sent to Mrs Moore's family, we are delighted that the Great Western Hospital has shown it can compete with the very best health care there is. It truly is a pleasure to report.

The hospital has a wonderful new building which has dedicated, talented and caring staff working inside. As Mrs Moore's son Paul said, this is a "happy story really" because his mum spent her final days so happily.

There can be no greater testament to the GWH than that sentiment.