TEN days before Christmas I slipped on black ice within yards of my home and spectacularly broke my ankle. On Christmas Eve I was back at home after an operation to put a plate and some screws in the ankle, with the prospect of a quiet Christmas and a good recovery in the next weeks.

My fears of interminable waits and chaos were unfounded; I was treated promptly, competently and compassionately throughout. I want to record my thanks to the NHS and its staff for their care and attention.

Just to count the people I saw, there were the ambulance paramedics and, at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary in rough order of appearance: the A&E nurse and doctor, porters, the sister and nursing staff of Ward 36, caterers, the orthopaedic consultant and his surgical staff, the anaesthetist, the cleaners, the diabetic nurse, the physiotherapists, the occupational therapist, the pharmacist and finally the plasterer who created a very neat final product - my elegant ankle cast.

That makes at least 15 different categories of people, every one of whom I want to thank for their help in my treatment.

Most importantly, there is something right about the NHS system which enables them to work together effectively. There has clearly been a lot of planning and training in the protocols needed to take me smoothly through from lying on an icy pavement to my discharge on the way to recovery, with follow-up planned.

I am grateful to the NHS management for maintaining such high standards, although it needs to be given the resources to keep up the good work.

Jonathan Moffett

Ambleside