Letter of the week: Stamford reader says 'The NHS can do incredible work'

The NHS can work. And when it does its incredible.

I understand this is not the headline we are used to reading but I think we need to call out when things do work, not just when they don’t.

Of course I see the A and E issues, beds in hospital corridors, regrettable death on the news and it’s concerning, but my recent experience with the NHS has been exemplary and shows that it can work.

• John Elson's cartoon is sponsored by the Assist Group

Following a telephone consultation in early December, my local Stamford GP requested I attend the Lakeside surgery later that week and identified a growth of concern near my eye. I was referred to Peterborough City Hospital and received a text on the same day from them confirming an appointment for two weeks time.

The need for an operation was confirmed and this was completed at Peterborough City Hospital just before Christmas (I did benefit from a cancellation), with the stitches then removed on New Year’s Eve. Between Lakeside surgery and Peterborough City Hospital; three consultations, one operation and one follow up all completed during December. My care during these appointments was excellent, slight delay on the day of the op itself but quite acceptable (actually due to the arrival of a prisoner who needed attention and not NHS lack of planning).

Seeing how the NHS staff dealt with this situation calmly was quite an eye opener when the patient was handcuffed to two guards and not in a great frame of mind.

I am writing this as I guess it must feel pretty demotivating to NHS staff when all they hear is criticism. They do a difficult job, so let’s continue to support the NHS and provide some balance to the obvious challenges that need addressing by calling out when it does work well, because that’s where we all want it to get to.

K Gordon

Stamford