I READ with interest the article in your paper on Tuesday, August 15 regarding the A&E department of Worcester Royal Infirmary at Ronkswood.

At about 00.30 on Sunday, August 13, I drove my husband to the A&E because he was having extreme difficulty with his breathing and I felt he needed urgent medical attention. When we arrived the waiting room was quite full and we noticed the sign saying that there was a three-hour delay for treatment.

However, we checked in at the desk and my husband was taken into the assessment room within about 10 minutes, thinking he would have to return to the waiting room and wait. He was immediately taken through and put on a trolley in a cubicle where he underwent various tests.

This must have been at about 01.00. There was a slight delay in seeing a doctor, but there was only one available who had to see to everyone in rotation. By 02.45 he had also been seen by a doctor from the medical unit and was told that he must be admitted for the night for observation.

By 03.00 I was on my way home again, and he was on his way into a ward - being discharged the following morning.

We have no criticism to make of how we were treated, or the time taken to deal with our problem. I say well done to the staff.

The staff - all female on the night in question - had their work cut out, not only having to help the patients and complete what seems to be masses of paperwork, but also in dealing with two men, apparently drunk.

One was messy and the other very noisy - most unpleasant.

MRS DIANA HUNT,

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