Recently you have been running a series of articles on the PMH. I should like to add my two penny worth.

I have not long been discharged from the Inglesham Ward after a small operation, I was only in for three days, but those three days will live in my memory for all time.

In April this year I was a patient in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Clinic of Oxford, for an operation requiring bone and plastic surgery, that took a little longer.

In both these hospitals I received the very best of care, it was more like a holiday camp, except for the blood and guts.

I had to wait a year to get a bed in the PMH, such was the demand. I was an emergency at Nuffield, and got in straight away.

I attended outpatients clinics in both, but never at any time did I have to wait an excessive amount of time anywhere. Of course I had to wait my turn, sometimes that took a while, but that wasn't the fault of the doctors. Some patients took longer to patch up than others but nowhere was there ever any sign of time wasting or incompetence.

Let's face it, an X-ray machine or a scan takes time to work and if you're lying looking at the ceiling for the best part of an hour, someone else is waiting for you to finish, and if the first photograph or image isn't satisfactory, it must be done again, making us all behind, and more than likely it was our fault for moving or something.

No one should ever complain about waiting in hospitals, there is always a good reason why and you might be that reason some day.

As for using abusive language to nurses or even violence, this is abhorrent and should be treated with the utmost severity. Immediate discharge at least and refusal to treat until proper respect is shown to those trying to help you. There is no excuse for it, none.

Those who are violent should be left to suffer, and deservedly so. Eventually their pain will overcome their belligerence and its easier to treat an unconscious man or woman.

I say these doctors and nurses deserve every consideration going for the marvellous work they do. Long may they continue to do so. They will always have my heartfelt thanks.

JAMES GLASS

Wolsely Avenue

Park South, Swindon