For the past week Mrs M has been suffering from nose bleeds for the first time in her life. Yesterday morning it took a turn for the worse when not only was it coming out of the nose, it was running out of her eye as well. Daughter No1 who is a practice nurse called an amblance for her but we didn't meet the criteria so it was refused so off we went to the surgery and the doctor inserted a plug in her nose.

This didn't work terribly well and by tea time No1 daughter call in and contacted the doctor to send for an ambulance. This request brought a "First Response" car and crew who checked her condition against a check list and confirmed we did need an ambulance.

We now sat and waited for the ambulance to arrive from Bridgwater, about 40 miles away. It then took Mrs M to Exeter A&E about 25 miles away were we arrived at 8.30pm.

We then sat around 10.30pm, in which time she was seen by two doctors and several nurses, and a decision was made to keep her in overnight. She eventually
get on the ward just before midnight.

I then had to get home (another 25 miles) and it was 12.30am by the time I got to bed.

You read reports in the papers about the breakdown of the A&E departments but it is not until you see it first hand you realize what the staff have to put up with.

I have nothing but praise for the doctors and nurses who tended Mrs M with the utmost consideration and tender care and wonder how they keep it up with the pressure they are working under.

Watching it in action I am left wondering if a lot of the problems have been brought on the service by more and more government interference. When I was working in the police service if I , as a PC on the ground, I called for an ambulance it was sent at my request accepting my judgment and we had local hospitals with an A&E facility that could filter most of the minor incidents such as Mrs M.

Anyhow Mrs M is reported to have had a good night and I am expecting to go and collect this afternoon. Thank you RD&E.