I HAD to attend A&E at Airedale Hospital at 8.15 on Christmas Day morning – severe chest infection and haematoma caused by the violence of my coughing. From start to finish I cannot praise highly enough the staff who looked after me so well.

The lady at reception, my triage nurse, the nurse who gave me an ECG and took blood, the young doctor and then his slightly older colleague who gave me an ultrasound scan, the staff in X-ray – every single one was friendly, supportive and professional. Every one of them wished me a Happy Christmas. Each one was cheerful and set on giving their best attention and training to me.

I’ve said it before – after my daughter and my grandchildren -the NHS is the greatest thing to have happened to me.

My treatment that day at this hospital is just one example of many such across the country.

I want to say how grateful I am to have been looked after by such dedicated and caring people that morning. That it was a special morning too makes it all the more significant. They know who they are!

The NHS isn’t perfect, but more often than not it does what it says on the tin, and does it supremely well.

ALLAN FRISWELL Keighley Road, Cowling