WHILE holidaying in York during Easter my wife and I were both admitted to York Hospital.

At a time when the NHS is receiving bad publicity in the media with Government interference causing frustrations to all who work within it, I want to defend them and record how wonderfully we were treated.

Thanks to the speed and efficiency of both the A&E and resuscitation units our conditions were swiftly diagnosed and brought under control and we were allocated beds on Ward 25.

The consultant in charge, his medical team and all the sisters and nurses on the ward, without exception, gave us professional and loving care throughout the duration of our stay.

We cannot praise them enough for the patience and compassion they showed to all their patients at all times, day or night.

Strict attention was paid to the cleanliness of the ward and, as far as we could see, the whole hospital was aware of its obligations to patients and visitors by providing facilities for warding off the much- publicised MRSA virus.

The catering arrangements were excellent with multiple choices of hot and cold meals.

York Hospitals Trust and the people of York should be proud of the way their hospital is run. The dedicated staff performed near miracles in often difficult situations, with patient care being paramount in the order of priority to all members of its staff.

My wife and I thank everyone for the loving care and the happy memories of friendship we shall treasure on our return to Bristol.

Whoever wins the General Election, the NHS belongs to this dedicated band of workers and the people they serve, not to any political party.

Henry Arthur Puttick,

Ryecroft Avenue,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 11:19 Thursday, April 21, 2005