WITH all the controversy and criticism, rightly or wrongly, often associated with the National Health Service, and our own Hereford County Hospital in particular, may I use your columns to pay tribute to every one of the local hospital staff, whom it was my good fortune to recently meet, albeit for personal reasons of a tragic nature.

Unfortunately, my dear wife Eileen had been ill at home for several years, but suddenly her condition worsened. Dr Martin Knight, our GP, responded immediately to my call for a home visit, and within 15 minutes had telephoned the hospital for help.

An ambulance soon arrived, crewed by two paramedics - a thoughtful young man and woman, who put Eileen at her ease, as they whisked her off to Accident and Emergency. There, she was treated sympathetically, both by a doctor and nurse, in my presence, during the induction process.

She was then settled in the Lugg ward, but subsequent tests revealed that her life was in danger, and her chances of survival were very slim. She remained there for a further month until her life came to an end.

Fortunately for most patients, it seemed to me that they were in the Lugg ward short term, and returned home, just happy and grateful for having been treated.

For me, it was a more serious experience dominating my life for full four weeks. I lived on edge that any day, I would lose my adorable wife and my children's devoted mother.

In reality and with hindsight, I may have shown some impatience at times, in order to maximise on Eileen's comfort and medication, but never did I ever receive any response from any doctor or nurse, other than it being kindly and positive.

I had only been home half an hour after one morning's visit, when a nurse rang to suggest that I should return. Together with my son and daughter, we managed to get back to Eileen in time to witness her passing, in a dignified and peaceful manner.

In despair though we were, to those staff on duty at the time, I was able to offer my sincere thanks for all the kindness and tender loving care they had shown Eileen. In one magical moment, the atmosphere changed, for it seemed that in that one month, we had become very good friends. We said our goodbyes with handshakes, kisses and hugs. What a great bunch they were.

When thanking one nurse, she simply replied, "It's my job." Surely, the understatement of the year. Ask any others, and I am certain that all would have been equally modest.

How lucky we are to live in Hereford and to have such dedicated folk among us.

STANLEY W ARMS, Meadowbank Road, Hereford.