"Nothing but praise for the Great Western Ambulance Service"

My husband is waiting to have a heart operation and so we've taken over to Bristol from Swindon by the Great Western patient transport service twice now.

The first time they came for us was in early January, when the weather was really nasty, there inches of snow on the ground. I was a little apprehensive because I'd never been in an ambulance before. I really needn't have worried. They were so kind. My husband uses a wheelchair because he can't walk far without feeling weak and I was worried about the ambulance staff having to wait around while I brought him out but they weren't concerned at all. They were very friendly and completely put my husband and I at ease.

It was a lady and a gentleman that came out to us last time but yesterday, it was two young guys and they ticked all the boxes. They couldn't have been more polite and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble - they were asking us if we were warm enough and attending to our every need. I couldn't have hoped for better service.

We picked an old lady up on the way and they were so good to her. They put a blanket over her and constantly made sure that she was comfortable.

My husband likes to talk, and one of the young guys, I think his name was Matt, talked to my husband all the way there. He was as happy as larry to have someone to chat away with! It really put his mind at rest.

When we got to the hospital, the scanner had broken and so we were transferred up to A&E. I was worried that the ambulance staff wouldn't find us and I'd thought we'd need to walk back down to where they dropped us off but no, in walked the lovely guy to collect us as soon as we were ready to go. I was so impressed.

Just as I was getting out of the ambulance at home, I was laughing and joking with the guy and saying I wanted to write a letter about how good they were and he said to give Patient Opinion a ring and share my feedback with you. This is actually a lot easier for me to do and i'm really glad that other people will be able to see how brilliant the ambulance staff are.

We're going again with the ambulance service next Wednesday and honestly it feels like we're going on an outing! We're looking forward to seeing them! They're just such lovely people and made the whole thing so much easier for my husband and I.