"WE NEED MORE AMBULANCES AND STAFF FOR THE NHS NOW!"

When I first called 999 for help and being told that I would have to wait five hours for an ambulance I called again and told them that I could not put up with the pain I was in for another five minutes they realised I had a serious complaint and sent a Doctor and after she assessed me called for an ambulance that then came quite quickly. The Doctor and ambulance crew were all superb and I was seen as soon as I arrived in A and E. The team in A and E were all superb but once they had done all they could do for me I had to see a Doctor and was a pushed into a corridor with many other's and had to wait for four hours.

After five minutes with the Doctor she spoke to a surgeon and I was taken up to a ward to await an operation.

My Consultant and Surgeon along with their teams were superb and the operation was a success. However, while on Ridge ward there was a not unusual complication that made me very, very ill. The Doctors dealt with this and the solution was very painful but none of the nurses seemed to know what to do next to stop me being ill. Except for one agency night nurse who realised what the problem was, dealt with it and made sure it was on my notes what to do. Her intervention stopped me from what felt like drowning in my own vomit and a feeling that I was going to die to instant relief within minutes.

Apart from this the staff on Ridge ward were superb and do a very good job under difficult circumstances and a Thank You card is on it's way. When the old and frail man in the bed next to me died the nurses were very dignified and respectful and spent a lot of time behind the curtains making him clean and tidy for the next of kin. The padre and his assistant turned up and spent at least 30 seconds with him so I know who I have more respect for.

After a few days of good recovery I was transferred to Flaunden B ward and all the Doctors, Nurses and staff were superb, efficient and a real pleasure to be in the company off. You too have a Thank You card on the way.

My main complaint with both these ward's was the unbearable heat that left both patients and staff soaked with sweat day and night. This is not good for patient or staff morale and more desk top size fan's need to be kept in stock for when we have hot weather like we have been having.

New Labour closed my local General Hospital in Hemel Hempstead and I have always said that we should be opening Hospitals not closing them. I have been proved right after all these years as I just do not think Watford General Hospital can cope with the volume of work they have had forced upon them for all these years.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.