THERE are many gloomy stories about hospitals and ambulances, so I would like to pay tribute to two local hospitals and the paramedics who worked together to save my life.

I am a woman of 78 and, in July, I had a bad fall and banged my head on a concrete floor. Some days later I began to suffer dreadful headaches, so severe that I had to go to the A&E department at Fairfield Hospital. A kind triage nurse brought me a cup of tea and, though I had to wait a few hours to see a doctor, I was eventually admitted to ward 14.

The next day my consultant told me that he was arranging a CT scan and would be liaising with the neurosurgical unit at Hope Hospital, Salford, as Fairfield didn't have this facility. The scan showed up a subdural haematoma and Hope suggested medication be tried. The last thing I remember is taking a tablet.

The bleeding in my head escalated and I was moved to the high dependency unit in Fairfield, where the nurses must have taken great care of me until I was transferred to Hope for an operation.

My return to consciousness was hearing a nurse saying I was in the intensive care unit at Hope and she would be looking after me. I remained there for two days. I was then returned to Fairfield where my recovery was completed.

My heartfelt thanks go to everyone involved at both Fairfield and Hope hospitals. Were it not for these dedicated people, I would not be here to tell my story.

GRATEFUL