Recently, the NHS appears to have become the tabloid ‘whipping boy/girl’.

True there have been questions to answer about the care of patients in other parts of the UK, but here in Dorset we are blessed with first class local health care services.

In February, I went in to DCH for a major orthopaedic operation.

I cannot speak too highly of the team of surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff on Ridgeway Ward and phsiotherapists who looked after me then and the Dorset County Council re-enablement team, who are helping my recovery now.

A big ‘thank you’ to all.

We still have the World Health Organisation's acknowledged best national health organisation on the planet, here in the UK.

All it requires to thrive in the future is less privatisation, more efforts to prevent a postcode lottery – a rich country like ours can afford execellence for all, wherever you live (even in a recession) and less emphasis on arbitrary targets and more on individual patient care throughout Britain.

Certainly, here in Dorset none of us can complain about the delivery of health care services, despite major cut backs to budgets.

The skilful and dedicated staff who provide these services all deserve a pat on the back for their professionalism, under difficult circumstances.

Richard Denton-White, Fortuneswell