SIR: I am complaining about the Royal Bolton Hospital.

On Sunday April 13, I took my husband to the A and E Unit. We arrived at 9.40am and were seen by the assessment nurse at 9.45am and were informed there was a one hour waiting time. Within minutes this went to one and a half hours. Then the waiting time was adjusted to two and a quarter hours, then it went up again.

This was proving to be distressing to my husband who was suffering from severe headache and chest pain and I decided that enough was enough and took my husband home.

I must say it is no wonder that people are dissatisfied with the A and E Unit, because honestly the system is not working.

It is no wonder that people are dissatisfied and don't have faith in the National Health Service.

Mrs M Shiers, Worsley

A Hospital spokeswoman said: "An individual formal complaint made to us will be answered in detail. However. locally and nationally there has been a large increase in the number of patients coming to accident and emergency departments and unfortunately this has led to longer waiting times. In Bolton the number of ambulance cases has risen dramatically and we now also receive many people who once would have gone to Salford or Wigan. Patients are carefully assessed on arrival at Bolton's unit and those whose need is greatest are prioritised which sometimes means that others may have a longer wait to see a doctor, particularly at busy times."

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