IT happened totally unexpectedly. I did not recognise the symptoms, but the brilliant team of four paramedics quickly established that I was suffering from a heart attack. They took me immediately to Wythenshawe Hospital, famous for the skills of its heart surgeons and coronary care staff.

After a few hours I learnt that my consultant had inserted three stents into the vessel where the problem lay, all by remote control. That evening I felt comfortable in intensive care, not appreciating that I would be observing and experiencing the work of our NHS 24/7 for the next 20 days.

I had a setback – four days in intensive care with a lung infection caused by pneumonia. It was dealt with successfully so from day 10 I was looked after in the coronary care ward.

For me a university teaching hospital is a very stimulating place. Having taught biology at school to many students who later qualified as doctors, I was pleased to be a guinea pig for current medical students who needed to practise their bedside manner and communication skills. I got to know several junior doctors who had done their A levels at my former school.

The data recording and report writing on my condition were meticulous. The gruelling nurses’ schedules meant that I had many different nurses in the days and nights. At a changeover there was a thorough briefing between the senior nurses for each patient in their care. I was just amazed at the number of staff who came through the ward over a 24-hour period, each person having specific responsibilities but all ready to work together when needed. One couldn’t have had a more multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith group of people including the Afro-Caribbean man who meticulously swept and wiped the floor of our ward every day.

Despite the problems that are constantly being debated in the media, my experience of being on the receiving end of the care given by NHS staff made me realise that the NHS is a precious, unique institution of which we can be very proud.

More than that, it reflects the extent to which our society is an outgoing, multi-cultural community, defying all attempts to spread fear and create division. In this respect Britain has much to offer the rest of Europe in these troubled times.

Keith Neal, Altrincham Interfaith Group.