I WRITE this letter having earlier in my life been a member of a private health scheme which I no longer can afford. Fortunately I never had to use this private service; however, having visited some of my friends being treated under this scheme, I gained a personal view on private medical care. As far as I could see, apart from a guaranteed private room, fresh cut flowers, leather couches, and a basic three-star catering service little else stood out as being superior to that available via our National Health Service. They may get you an early appointment to see a specialist sooner than the NHS but that is where the apparent main difference lies. Private hospitals do not provide for emergency cases such as broken limbs, heart attacks, strokes or other acute cases.

I have now become an old age pensioner and have recently had to attend my doctor via the NHS with a minor complaint in my legs. In my case I attended my GP at Mearns Medical Centre, was very promptly referred to the local health centre and from there I was referred to the Royal Infirmary, all within one week. I was in turn sent to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, again within a week. Following a discussion the consultants there felt that a further opinion would assist in proposing a treatment plan. I was then sent, two weeks later, to Garnavel Hospital and following further tests and discussions with consultants a treatment plan had been put into action (a total of a five-week turn-around from first presenting to doctor to treatment plan being agreed).

No private health service could even try and match this level and quality of service. Thankfully over the years I have not had to use the NHS often. But I feel that the level of service provision to me on this occasion should be recognised. I have been treated by at least two dozen primary and secondary health service professionals over the last few weeks and had input from several consultants in the process. From the car park attendant, to the staff in the doctor's surgery, to the health clinics and staff at the hospitals and even to the pharmacy the service has been exemplary.

I must be one of thousands who are on a daily basis using our NHS. Because of the one or two cases with a hiccup in the service we read and hear the headlines "health service failure" and are rarely presented with the good news stories. While I believe we should continue to allow people to access private health care if that is their choice, we absolutely must continue to support and publicly commend the National Health Service. It really is the best health service in the world.

And by the way, a small increase in wages for the thousands of health care staff who provide 24-hour service 365 days per year would most certainly not go amiss.

Frank McGee,

3A The Dell, Newton Mearns.