HAVING been taken ill with a viral infection over the Bank Holiday period, I’d like to share my experience.

The Doctor on Call (a lady from Aberystwyth on call in Pembrokeshire) apparently quite a regular thing, was excellent, she called an ambulance which came quickly with a very friendly crew.

First port of call A and E Withybush, friendly efficient staff, as were the staff on the ACDU Unit, where I spent my first night (although it was apparent they were short staffed and under some pressure).

I was then sent to Ward 4, here also an apparent shortage of staff - at one point two nurses for 24 patients, the poor staff chase around between one job, another, then back again on a regular basis, there is very little time to sit and talk with a patient or to answer bell’s as quickly as they would like.

On my discharge day a doctor was requested before lunch time to come and do my discharge assessment, he didn’t get to the Ward till 5.30pm - NO - not his fault, he was only one of two doctor’s covering wards, again short staffed.

So please next time anyone feel’s like complaining about staff in any of these departments for being slow, or not answering bell’s etc just think what it must be like on the other side of the fence, they do a job to the best of their ability, under constant pressure (you could say a can’t win situation) they do a marvellous job with the limited facilities they have.

MRS LYNN GREGORY

Sageston