"Under staffed, over worked, are four words that spring to mind. There's always enough money for Administration Managers, according to reports, there's more managers than beds, in the National Health Service, P R consultants and expensive working dinners, but not where it matters, at the sharp end. Why don't these people realise, the NHS is not there to provide them with a opportunity to pamper to their inflated egos, but to get the patients better. It maybe seems a bit naive, to expect this. But commonsense should enter in this equation, how many patients, have been wrongly diagnosed, because a over worked doctor was expected to work long hours, because it was financially beneficial in the short term, why did the doctor not send me immediately for a scan, was it he had to weigh up whether to waste money on the scan, and have it come back normal. Or they don't have that facility open at weekends, because of the overtime. Surely the powers that be, know that you can get ill at weekend. I apologise if I'm getting carried away, but it'll come clear later."CLICK HERE TO READ NOEL'S STORY

"After overcoming initial dificulties of getting in and out of the water, I have started visiting a local private pool, because I feel it will help in my recovery I was a strong swimmer and, before my stroke, swam weekly.Now, however, once in the water, I have no confidence and cannot take my feet off the bottom. Could you please advise of any outlets, especially those with a website, where I could obtain a suitable buoyancy aid"

Laurie Haworth.
Email Address: HAWORTHL8@aol.com