Doctors' strike is ill-timed as our ailing NHS starts long recovery

A FEW weeks ago a friend had to take her sister to hospital. Nothing life-threatening but better safe than sorry.

- SUSAN LEE

Sadly, she was soon very sorry. Having successfully been triaged she was moved onto a corridor where she waited for a bed to become available. And waited. And waited.

A bed was eventually found on what was effectively day three, much to everyone's relief - including the staff. Still, her situation was better than another woman in the corridor who had arrived a couple of days previously.

She too had waited and waited but then had to go home to check in on her cancer-stricken partner and disabled adult child. She was the only carer both had. The woman returned later that afternoon but, not unreasonably, was placed at the back of the bed queue. She may be there still.