WIDOWER who suffered a bad stroke was treated ‘like a king’ by caring hospital staff, says his daughter who urged people to stop moaning about the National Health Service.

John Holliday, aged 91, of Longheadland, Ombersley suffered a stroke at home and received care at Avon 3 ward at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

Mr Holliday was admitted to hospital on July 31, the same month he lost his wife Dinah who died on July 4.

He was discharged on August 17, which would have been the day of his 66th wedding anniversary, and is now recovering well at home thanks to the care he received in hospital and follow-up visits at home from district nurses.

His daughter Lesley Holliday, who lives with her father, called 999 after he suffered a fall and his speech and movement down one side deteriorated.

She said: “He was in an acute stroke ward and that has to be the best organised, special place on this earth. “He couldn’t have been treated better if he was the king of England. The staff are trying so, so hard. What was really lovely was they let me stay with him and included me in helping to look after him. “He’s doing well. He can walk and talk. I just want everyone to know how wonderful they are and how much I thank them. They were absolutely incredible. Nothing was too much trouble for them.”

Miss Holliday also wished to extend her thanks to the paramedics who helped him initially and Ombersley Medical Centre. She said: “It’s high time in this country we start to take some action and say ‘thank you’ and get rid of all that negativity. I feel there’s far too much moaning about everything that’s wrong and no-one ever talks about it when the care is good.”