HAVE any Kidderminster residents actually seen Ronkswood Hospital?

Do they know its history?

Well, let me tell you it is a very unlovely place - rows of Nissen huts joined by long concrete-floored corridors.

The Americans built it during the Second World War as a temporary hospital, yet 50 years plus later it still stands.

After your beautiful modern hospital, it's going to come as a culture shock to any sick Kiddy-ites.

The building needs knocking down, but I wouldn't dream of knocking the staff.

The doctors and nurses are amazing, considering the working conditions they have to put up with.

Let me tell you about my recent stay in Ronkswood.

My operation was booked for 8.30am, so I was told to be there for 7am.

As 8.30am came and went, I was still sitting in reception. Anyway, at 10am a bed was found for me in the children's ward and I was taken there to don my hospital gown.

Then, because there were no trolleys, and they hadn't had time to give me a pre-med, I had to walk along the corridors to the theatre.

Thankfully I awoke in a bed and all was well, apart from the food and the showers, that is.

There was only one shower between 24 women, so every day there was a fight to use it.

The fitter ones got there first, but as the days progressed I got quicker and eventually managed my early morning ablutions before lunch.

There was a bath but the one woman who got hoisted into it couldn't recommend the experience. She said it was scarier than any ride at Alton Towers.

Oh, and there was a block of three toilets, one of which was not actually screwed to the floor, and all of which wouldn't warrant one star on my cleanliness scale.

Here are a couple of tips, in case you are unlucky enough to end up there - get someone to bring in your meals. (OK, so I'm a veggie and fussy about the quality of my food.)

And don't leave your bed for any length of time because, on your return, you could find a stranger in it.

The bed shortage is that bad.

How are they going to cope with an influx of "foreigners"? I dread to think.

LYNNE HACKLES

Moorlands Road

Malvern