YOUR article about the dismissal of two breast care nurses (LET, April 3) came at the end of a week in which I personally witnessed the way that the health service in Blackburn is not meeting the needs of the patient.

On Tuesday morning, I had an out-patients appointment for 10.15am, to have some stitches removed from my hand after a recent operation. It was 11.45am before I was called to see the nurse and nearly 12.15pm, some two hours later, before I was clear to leave the hospital.

My next experience of delays within the hospital system was on Friday. At 1pm, a friend rang to say her husband was not well and their doctor had rung the hospital about a bed and to ask for an ambulance to take him there. She asked my husband and I to accompany them to the hospital.

The ambulance, which the doctor had rung for at 1pm, did not arrive until 3.45pm. My friend's husband was finally settled in bed by 4.05pm, but was not seen by a doctor until 6.30pm. Both he and his wife were so distressed by this time.

I want to point out most strongly that none of these complaints is being made against the nurses and doctors. It is the system and staff shortages which are at fault.

How can the nurses do their job properly if they are being put under so much pressure?

On Friday afternoon and evening there were only three nurses on duty, seeing to 25 patients. The doctor on duty also had another ward to look after.

P TATTERSALL, Whinney Lane, Lammack, Blackburn.

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