DURING the last 18 months to two years I have received quite a lot of treatment and medical care for cancer and a hip replacement from the Taunton and Somerset Hospital at Musgrove Park.

The excellent professional care, concern and treatment was provided with such good humour and was second to none. I include everyone with whom I came into contact, consultants, doctors, nurses, administrative staff, cleaners, volunteers etc. I admire and respect the dedication shown by everyone in providing such an excellent service.

Also, the care and treatment I received from Williton Hospital, the Oncology Centre in Bristol, the Red Cross with its car driver volunteers who took me to and from Bristol each day and my own doctor's practice has been absolutely brilliant in the same way.

We are so fortunate to have such facilities to rely on in time of need. To listen to some politicians, TV and radio reports and to read some newspaper articles you could be led to believe that the NHS was in crisis; that it was providing a very poor service. Certainly there are some problems. We do not live in a perfect world but the successes far outnumber the problems but we only hear about the problems.

Good news does not seem to make the headlines whereas, not only do problems make the headlines, the issues are debated over and over again. What does that do for the morale of those who work in the NHS?

MICHAEL BEALE Orchard Way, Shapwick