I agree with David Ingram that standards of nursing aren't what they used to be (Opinion, August 26).

A little discipline exercised by the ward sisters and matrons of yesteryear would do no end of good.

I recently underwent an operation at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. For four or five days after the operation I was regularly seen by a doctors and nurses.

Once, when I had the temerity to ask a passing nurse if she would tidy up my bed for me, I was sharply told to do it myself.

I was not told if I could now eat and drink or whether I should have any particular diet, I was just presented with a menu by a person who didn't speak much English.

For the eleven days I was in the hospital my bedlinen was not changed and at night the nurses station was a constant hum of chat.

It was clear unless one had friends and family visiting daily you were on your own. Matron might have been a bit of a dragon but she certainly ran a tight ship!

-P. Hurworth, Bevendean Avenue, Brighton