LAST Wednesday an elderly motorist fulfilled the wish of any number of people and sideswiped me off the road, totalling my bike in the process and breaking a bone near my ankle.

Being essentially a coward, I delayed going to the hospital, but, after a couple of days, the size of my foot persuaded me I should go.

In all, I had two visits and on each occasion I found the time spent waiting was completely acceptable and the staff, from the secretaries on reception, to the nurse who examined the ankle, to the X-ray team that highlighted the fracture to the cheery pair who put on my “snow boot”, not forgetting those who pushed the wheelchair, could not have been kinder and more agreeable.

The first visit took, in total, two hours from leaving the house to returning.

The second visit took 20 minutes and my thanks to the wonderful doctor who told me that, as long as I wore the boot, the fracture would heal and I didn’t have to return unless I felt it necessary.

Brilliant.

My thanks to them all.

Jo Jones, Darlington