FIVE years ago, we would have been the first in line to campaign for nurses' rights. But I am sorry to have to say that, on the last three occasions that my mother has been admitted to hospital, we just could not believe the lack of care and compassion.

Gone are the days when a 'caring angel' would inquire how a patient was feeling and allay any fears they might have. My mother's case is different because she is dysphasic, which means she can understand most things that are said to her, but she cannot find the words to reply. Almost like being in a foreign country alone and not being able to speak the language.

The last time my mother was in hospital, myself and my two sisters visited at every opportunity, and there were seven other patients on the ward. In all honesty, we only saw one nurse attending patients very intermittently.

We know nurses have far too much paperwork to do, but this would never have happened when there was a matron on the ward. Nurses had to be seen to be doing something other than standing around station talking, and not being approachable. We are only too aware of the state of the NHS but it is the poor patients who are suffering.

We have to speak up for our poor mother who cannot speak for herself. We feel sorry for those patients who don't have any family.

MARILYN AND ELAINE THOMPSON, JEAN KNIGHTON (Blackburn).

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