By now, the NHS must be used to praise and condemnation in equal measure, but when it does a superb job, I believe we should be unstinting in our praise.
On Tuesday, May 4, my mother-in-law, Dorothy Fletcher, was admitted to York District Hospital with a suspected heart attack. On Friday morning, May 7, she died peacefully with her family around her. In the intervening period we all witnessed everything that is good about the NHS.
Throughout the last three days of her life, Dorothy received the best care in the world from all the medical, nursing and domestic staff of the hospital and, in particular, those on the Coronary Care Unit of Ward 31. Every member of the family who visited was treated with courtesy, consideration and kindness.
We all thank you and hope that if you occasionally make a mistake or fall short of the high standards you have set yourselves, you will be forgiven.
Dorothy led a long and satisfying life in her 80-plus years, but it is worth remembering that when she was born no NHS existed. Let us be grateful for progress.
Douglas Curtis,
Lords Moor Lane,
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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