Good health

I take exception to the rash of criticisms made against nurses, doctors and other NHS staff in recent months in the press.

My mother died recently in the high dependency unit at the Western General Hospital. She was one of those, fortunately, few people to die as a result of her cancer treatment.

Despite being in her late 70s, the care given to her by staff during her 11-day stay was exceptional. Every decision about treatment was made with Mum, if possible, and the family were always kept up to date with her progress.

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Nurses and doctors took care that they did not lose sight of their goal to work towards a return home if possible, working as hard to ensure her dignity was maintained as they did to treat or alleviate her symptoms.

Her ­oncologist visited almost every day and the care was delivered in a multi-disciplinary way. It is a great comfort to myself and my family to know that every opportunity to treat her was taken and that she wanted for nothing in her final days.

The two GPs from the local practice in Haddington both ­visited my father, unprompted, to pass on their condolences and check he was OK. What’s wrong with the NHS? Very little, I say.

Pam Robinson

Haddington

East Lothian

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