WHEN I trained as a nurse and later a midwife, God may well have been in his heaven.

But as far as we junior nurses were concerned, God wore a navy blue dress, was called Sister and ruled with a rod of iron.

She had little knowledge of or interest in, hospital politics and even less in IT skills. Her expertise lay in basic nursing care and hygiene.

We wouldn't have dared be seen outside the hospital grounds in our uniforms, let alone in shopping centres.

This was a sure way of spreading infection both ways.

This week I've seen nurses in uniform, shopping in supermarkets, chain store chemists and dress shops.

I'm not in the least surprised, therefore, that our UK hospitals are riddled with infection.

VAL BAYLISS,

Breinton Road, Hereford.