CAN I start by praising staff on two wards at Royal Bolton Hospital during my stay, B2 and B3.

I found them to be professional, dedicated and very hard working. I would recommend most of them to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

However, I must comment on the hard-working aspect. I found them so overworked that they did not have time to discuss anything with their patients.

I saw elderly patients who had been told to press the buzzer if they needed assistance, wait up to half and hour to be asked what they wanted (usually the commode).

By this time it was too late and onee lady was very distressed for wetting the bed. This was because staff were all busy attending to someone or something else.

As much as they tried they just could not do more than one thing at once. This, to me, is not in keeping with getting well.

That is one observation, there are too any to list.

I recall one night when there was only one staff nurse and two health care assistants and another nurse who was supposed to work until midnight. She stayed on all night because there was no one else to cover.

As I have nothing but admiration for the staff, the fact remains that the hospital is so understaffed it is frightening.

I think staff are treated unfairly and are expected to perform miracles. I realise this is not just Bolton, but countrywide.

More staff with time to deal with patients as top priority (instead of the accountants) will result in fewer deaths, fewer cases of negligence and a happier working environment all round. I hope it can be resolved sooner than later.

Mrs Rosina Powles Chorley New Road Horwich