A NURSE had no hesitation in dialling 999 when an emergency cropped up at Kidderminster Hospital. Nurse Barbara Breakwell, Sub Officer Graham Moran and Beat Manager Bob Fearlall.

And she was delighted with the response time of policemen and firefighters who raced to save patients from a bleak and lonely Christmas.

Patients on the only medical ward after downgrading seemed in for a cheerless time when nurses found the Christmas decorations' cupboard empty.

The transfer of staff and services to Worcester hospitals had apparently included the tinsel and garlands!

But thanks to staff nurse Barbara Breakwell, who dialled police, fire and ambulance for help, the two dozen or so patients on Cookley Ward enjoyed a glittering Christmas party on Monday.

An appeal for decorations brought a magnificent response from shops and hospital staff and police and firemen volunteered to put them up and meet patients.

Mrs Breakwell said: "I called the emergency services because I thought it would be nice for the patients to see the human side of police and firemen in uniform.

"Most of our patients are elderly and worried about crime. They are usually frightened to death to see policemen or anyone in uniform and don't like to call them up because they don't want to be any trouble."

Yesterday the ward was set for a visit from chairman of the Worcester-shire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Harold Musgrove who was judging a hospital wards Christmas decorations' competition.