HAVING been interested, and at times quite frustrated, at all the bashing of the NHS over these ridiculous so-called targets by certain sections of the media, I personally think your paper should be giving the under-staffed and over-worked doctors, nurses, and everyone who helps to make A&E work a very large pat on the back from us all.
Assuming the reported figures about pressures on A&E are correct, then over 3,400 people turning up at A&E at the QMC over the course of a week equates to more than 20 people an hour ('Besieged hospitals in festive tweet for help', January 6).
These will obviously range from mothers rightly worrying about their child with a minor ailment, to major heart attacks to major road accidents.
Each one will have to have the same serious assessment; we as individuals wouldn't expect any less if it was us suffering. Nevertheless until that initial consultation is made, no-one knows the serious nature of what is going to be found and thus it is going to take time.
The other thing to take note of is the fact that all these members of staff are human and have families and, like the rest of us, would much prefer to be at home over a bank holiday like Christmas.
Therefore through these hard times I would like through your pages to show my gratitude to all the wonderful hard-working staff of all our hospitals, for doing such a wonderful job given the difficult restraints our politicians put them under.
The politicians, of course, had their usual three-week holiday whilst carrying out their criticism.
ANDREW HENDERSON
Failsworth Close
Clifton
