Forgive us senior citizens for living too long these days and causing the NHS a headache.

Having had my second spell of x-rays (a total of six on the day and then repeated as two of them did not show up), I spent nearly three hours at the hospital.

After seeing the result, I find I have to have both knees replaced.

I was amazed at the doctor's opinion: "You can either have the op or live with it".

Surely one would expect better advice from a doctor?

Incidentally, I'm accepting this operation, for which I'm officially told I have to wait nine months.

But I will apologise on behalf of the elderly for the inconvenience we cause.

-Claude Ruskin (age 68), Brighton