I WOULD like to thank and congratulate Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, for the care it has given my father over the last seven months.

He was admitted in February after a near-fatal stroke. He is now looking forward to being discharged into sheltered housing and the incredible progress he has made is wholly due to the superb standard of care he has received from the doctors, nurses, physios, occupational and speech therapists and other staff on ward B8.

From being completely bed-bound and unable to speak, or use the stroke-affected side of his body, my Dad can now speak quite well, stand and walk a little way with aid.

We would also like to thank the staff of ward D1, who looked after Dad when he was first admitted.

The media is constantly full of stories about shortfalls of the NHS. I hope this public praise of the care provided at Queen's Park will redress the balance a little.

CAROLINE RYAN, Muswell Hill, London N10.

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