RE "It's back to basics" the article printed on Wednesday, October 18.

This is not a new scheme. I started my nurses training along with six other 16 year olds. We worked at the Victoria Hospital in Swindon and lived in the old Isolation Hospital at Gorse Hill. We worked 44 hours per week and got a wage of £1.15.6d.

We were worked very hard and did all the menial jobs but had one day a week at the college and good ongoing basic training on the wards.

An automatic place in the training school was assured if we were deemed capable. The matrons were dragons and if we were ill, the first question asked was "were we pregnant?". We had to be in the nurses home at 10pm and go home to our parents at weekends.

We were taught discipline and total respect for our patients and elders. I went on to spend 30 years nursing and never regretted one minute of it.

I hope that this revival of an old idea will be as successful as it was 44 years ago.

MARY O'BRIEN (nee Ellis)

Hill View Road

Swindon