I HAD the misfortune to be admitted to the emergency department at Poole Hospital in the early hours of the morning with heart irregularities.

However, I can now see why, some while back, this department earned the title of sixth best performing ED in England.

The professionalism and expediency of the treatment was exemplary.

The whole experience involving the paramedics Lottie and Dion, and then Dr Alex and Piotr in the ED department, left me with a feeling of awe and tremendous gratitude. The care and consideration shown to me was second to none and I wholeheartedly thank them for their dedication during these dreadful times.

But as a Poole resident and an NHS retired worker, I still feel numb with the decision to downgrade Poole’s emergency dept and move it to Bournemouth. What short sightedness to think that Bournemouth will cope with the ever increasing population of the boroughs.

Time will tell, but at whose cost?

DAWN SINGLETON Herm Road, Alderney