I READ John Blunt's column concerning the duties and pay of nurses. I thought the tone was rather over the top, but did not pay particular attention to it at that time.

However, recent events have made me put pen to paper.

My 15-year-old disabled son, Danny, has recently been discharged from the Children's Medical Unit at Queen's Park Hospital, where he was treated for a severe chest infection. Shortly after being admitted to the ward, Danny's condition deteriorated dramatically and for a while it appeared he might lose his fight for life.

Typically, he showed great spirit and rallied, against all the odds, but his recovery from that setback was due, in no small part, to the skills and dedication of the medical and nursing staff.

I witnessed at first-hand, during the nine days I spent on the ward, the very genuine care and compassion shown by the nursing staff, in addition to the many skills in evidence.

The skills needed to insert an intravenous drip needle without pain to my son, the prompt and capable responses to the sudden setbacks in his condition, the concern for my wellbeing, among them.

I also saw the two and a half hours' overtime willingly worked by the day staff when they were called upon to care for a desperately sick small child one evening.

True, at times, the nurses were chambermaids, true they were also waitresses. But it is also true that my son owes his life to their skills and the skills of the doctors, coupled with his own determination.

Danny and his family will always be deeply indebted to those nurses and doctors for their skills and dedication, which cannot be diminished by the sort of bigotry displayed in John Blunt's attack.

ANNE YATES (Mrs),

The Shambles, Rishton.

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