Sir - As a very recent patient at Worcester Hospital from 5th to 9th of January, I wish to express my support and thanks to all staff, especially the nurses who are highly professional, very hardworking and cheerful.

That week they seemed to me to be surrounded by utter chaos.

On Monday 5th there were no beds anywhere. It is a complete dilemma, one cannot turn away the sick. But they must have somewhere to go.

There were people on trollies everywhere in A and E and on seats in MAU, I was there for 12hours, admittedly with forays for tests.

It surely must be possible to analyse the patient profile and quickly decide where the demand lies.

Beds need to be freed but not by inappropriately re -designating an already very busy, essential surgical ward, receiving patients from A and E , into a medical ward.

There is at least one closed ward, why?

This seemed to be an emergency, one warned about for months, not a result of a hard weather episode, or a flue epidemic or noro virus.

Is the chief executive in denial? No Major Incident was declared.

They need to sort this situation out and justify the very high salary they receives.

No doubt just a few thousand pounds a year more than the people on the frontline who are dealing face to face with the patients.

Liz Leach

Worcester