Having been monitored as an out-patient by the Haematology Department at The Royal Bolton Hospital since 2007 for the rare blood disorder, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), I was admitted to the hospital recently with pneumonia.

Whilst in the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) D1 waiting for a bed in the appropriate ward, I fell and fractured part of my pelvis. I was transferred to the Complex Care Ward C2.

The Haematology Department has given me outstanding care and treatment since 2007 and this continued whilst I was in Ward C2. They are a credit to the hospital. I have also had outstanding care and treatment from the Community Intravenous (I.V.) Team of nurses as well as from staff in C2 particularly since I was unable to get in and out of bed, a chair, walk, wash myself or access my personal belongings without help. The nurses were extremely busy but there were not enough healthcare assistants to help.

I was transferred to the Winifred Kettle intermediate Care Centre, again excellent care by all the staff.

The food at the hospital and the Winifred Kettle centre was very good and I can only assume that if anyone does not like it, they are so used to junk food and takeaways that they do not recognise a a proper healthy meal.

I am now able to look after myself at home with equipment aids, meaning it has not been necessary for the Council to incur the costs of time and salary for carers at home.

It is disgraceful that the Labour Council has chosen to close this necessary, excellent care in the community facility for political reasons so that they can blame the Government for the cutbacks.

Andy Burnham, the shadow Labour Health Secretary, has recently criticised the Government and announced his plans to save the NHS. This begs the question as to why he did not do so when he was Health Secretary under the last Labour Government which left the country and the NHS in financial difficulties when they were voted out.

Name and address supplied

Bolton