THE Royal Bolton Hospital seems to get a lot of knocks these days, but when I needed the services of that establishment recently, they came up trumps.

I was taken ill with pains in my chest and my husband took me to A&E. From arriving, my problem was dealt with quickly and efficiently, although at the time it seemed like a lifetime.

I was transferred to D1 ward initially, and the staff were great. After being diagnosed as having angina, I was moved to C2 ward, where again the staff were caring and supportive.

All in all the people who treated me were a credit to their profession, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart (excuse the pun).

Now one of the major causes of heart problems is stress, so you can imagine the effect it had on both my husband and myself when he went home to find that our house had been broken into.

The callous thieves had smashed in our back door and been through the house, stealing what they could carry, this included a small safe. The safe and its contents are not our property, but belong to a charity called BASSET, which my husband and I help to run on a voluntary basis.

I should like to publicly say thank you to everyone who has phoned and called to enquire about my health, and there have been quite a lot.

All I can say in conclusion is, thank God for the NHS, but God help this country if our homes are not safe.

Mrs Margaret Willis

Lavender Road

Farnworth