I HAVE recently had cause to use the National Health Service for what was described as major surgery.

I am happy to report that the operation was done with skill and professional excellence.

After what I felt was a dubious beginning, the nursing was professional, sustained, and carried out with humour and no little humanity.

They all worked very hard. After this experience, I am, of course, in sympathy with the nurses.

A pay settlement of 1.9 per cent against an inflation figure of 3.1 per cent is disgraceful. This from a Labour Government. The obscene amounts paid to people in the City, and the two million pounds paid each day to support the unjust war in Iraq are not worthy of the traditions of the Labour Party which, until recently, I thought of as part of the conscience of the nation.

The recent budget also seems to favour those who have, as against those who have not.

Peter Combie, Albemarle Road, York.