I WAS recently admitted to Ward 7B, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where the treatment was brilliant by all doctors and nurses.

However, on my second day when I was at my most vulnerable time, a lady came up to my bedside and asked if I could answer some questions as she was doing a survey for the hospital. The ward was very busy at the time with doctors and nurses doing their rounds.

One of the questions she asked was were there enough nurses on the ward. At the time I thought there was, but by the end of the week how wrong this proved to be.

On the Sunday there were two emergency cases on the ward and I, being a bit more mobile by this time, was asked if I could ring the bell for a nurse for one of the patients as he could not do it for himself. This I did on more than one occasion.

There were only four nurses on the whole ward that evening and they were rushed off their feet.

This goes to prove there were not enough nursing staff, and vulnerable patients should not be asked a load of questions until they are on the road to recovery.

– John Annis, Cinderford.