One of the issues at the centre of the debate about the current state of our health service appears to be the bad treatment some patients experience at the A&E department of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

I have personal experience which completely contradicts this.

Last Christmas my 81-year-old father was admitted to the department with chest pains. A short time after his arrival he went into full cardiac arrest. He 'died' for about three minutes.

During this time the staff fought to save my father. They did everything they could. By the time I arrived they had managed to bring him back. We were told honestly there was nothing more they could do for him and there was little point in any further treatment.

Within a very short time he was moved to a comfortable ward where he could stay with his family and let nature take its course. By some miracle he survived and started to recover, even though in a very weakened state. He spent the next seven months at home with his family around him.

It was obvious, although still alive, he was in a very bad way and after talking to doctors it was decided to withdraw any intensive treatment and let him die in his own good time. During this time he received excellent terminal care. He died quietly with his family by his side. He had lived one full week after the last heart attack.

In all the hours spent at dad's bedside we had ample opportunity to watch the staff at work. Considering the pressures they were under we had nothing but admiration for them.

trouble.

-Pauline Harriott, Ashford Road, Brighton