Sir, Having recently spent several days in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, recovering from a bout of pneumonia, I have had time to reflect on the standard of care I received from all the staff I encountered from emergency admission to discharge.

The demands on the NHS and its professionals are often huge, but without exception their expertise and efficiency was of a very high standard.

As an acute admission, I was placed in a ward with many sick and aged patients and my impression was that the staff treated those in their care with dignity and patience.

I am particularly grateful that when hospital care is most needed, the NHS and its staff fulfil their role so splendidly, often under very difficult circumstances.

Kathleen Bradley Sheepstead Road Marcham