WE HAVE heard a lot lately about what the Hounslow Chronicle thinks of West Middlesex Hospital and quite a lot from the newly appointed chief executive, Jacqueline Docherty.

As your original report was based entirely on what the hospital chose to tell you and their new chief executive is very new indeed, the whole discussion is largely lacking in substance.

What would interest me a lot more is what patients and their relatives think of the hospital.

I have never before heard of a patient falling off the table in an operating theatre. The hospital tells us that they treat a lot of patients and that this sort of thing does not happen much. I do not find this awfully reassuring.

There is also much debate about the nutritiounal value of their meals. Unfortunately, I keep hearing of patients who are unable to feed themselves and have their meals removed uneaten.

For the the nutritiounal value of the food is rather academic but I must admit that this problem is by no means confined to West Middlesex Hospital.

Some say that criticising failings in the care provided by the hospital is scare-mongering and serves no purpose.

However, I have yet to see any official complaints produce any improvement. I feel that we have to speak out when care in a hospital is not up to scratch or people will continue to suffer.

Let us hear some genuine patient comments. I will be very happy if they are mostly positive.

John Murphy Camrose Avenue

Feltham