MY 93-year-old friend, Joan, fell and hurt her arm.

The next morning, a Sunday, she realised there was something very wrong with her wrist.

She first rang her surgery and a voice message told her to dial 111. This was around 7am.

By 7.45am, an ambulance had taken her to Airedale Hospital and she was having an X-ray.

She next had a pot put on her fractured wrist. No waiting about. Then she was seen by a nurse who suggested she stayed in overnight.

My friend described her cosy, warm flat and she was allowed to be taken home by ambulance, but not before arrangements had been made for a trained nurse to visit and assess what help she would need.

To crown this wonderful NHS service, she was sent home with sandwiches, a drink and a yoghurt!

Joan described all the staff, including the ambulance people, as wonderfully kind and thoughtful.

On her behalf, this is a public thank-you to the early Sunday morning staff at Airedale Hospital.

JAN GORDON

Skipton