REGARDING the case of a sister in the Accident and Emergency Department at Blackburn Infirmary being criticised for addressing a woman patient as 'cock,' (LET, March 4), I do not know the sister and do not work in A and E, department, but I have been a nurse for over 20 years, seeing many many changes along the way and not all for the better.

We are working in a culture of complaint where patients are actively encouraged to complain. I am all for people complaining if it is justified, as I know 'we' don't always get it right for one reason or another and if we don't know where we are going wrong then we cannot put it right.

However, on the other side of the coin, nurses are subjected on a daily basis to abuse, both verbal and often physical, more so in the A and E department.

I personally have been subject to physical threat and do not work in A and E where the problem is obviously on a greater scale. It is accepted now as "part of the job" and I don't know why -- 10 to 20 years ago it was unheard of and going to work was a pleasure.

We were able to go to work to do the job we are paid for -- taking care of people while working in a happy environment, sometimes having a laugh and a joke with our patients. But this isn't possible now as we are "walking on eggshells." It seems we cannot do right for wrong.

While being subjected to physical and verbal abuse, we as nurses have no one to complain to or defend us. It just adds to the pressure which we are already under. It certainly doesn't make newspaper headlines.

I recently had the misfortune to be on the 'other side of the fence' when a member of my family was treated in A and E in an emergency situation. I was left in awe by the expertise of both the paramedics and by the way we were treated in A and E.

I have nothing but praise and respect after what we went through that day -- which turned out to be the worst day of my life.

Quite frankly, how I was addressed was the least of my problems. However if someone had called me 'cock' or 'love' I certainly wouldn't have been offended.

This lady says it caused her mental trauma. What about the effect on the mental state of the sister in question? It is a sorry state of affairs when what could be classed in their part of the country as a term of endearment has been misconstrued this way and made newspaper headlines.

Name and address received.