SO OFTEN in your letters pages, brick-bats are hurled at Northwick Park Hospital and its perceived shortcomings, but what about its longcomings?

Last Tuesday afternoon, I was carted off there after suffering 48 hours of continuous and undiagnosed sickness. By midnight, a skilled assessment team had identified the problem and made me more comfortable. The decision was that surgery was urgently needed. By dawn, three surgeons, including their most senior, were at my bedside and the procedure was carried out that afternoon.

Two days later I was discharged.

I cannot speak highly enough of the skill, care, courtesy and consideration of everyone at Northwick Park - from doctors and surgeons to the nurses and ancillary staff and the kind porter who wheeled me right to the door of my car on my discharge. In my view, it's high time we in Harrow stopped moaning quite so much and began to appreciate more the excellent services we get from our local hospital.

JOHN WITTELS

Richmond Gardens Harrow Weald