I AM a nurse who qualified in 1954 and I am concerned about the demise of the “care component” in nursing.

Various reorganisations and restructures have occurred since 1966 to supposedly improve the service.

A few years ago, state enrolled nurses (well qualified in practical nursing care) and nursing auxiliaries (practically trained on the ward) were replaced by health care assistants (who are not trained in nursing care).

This has resulted in registered nurses having no support team and patients left unattended for long periods of time and lacking care.

My son suffered a fractured spine and closed head injury. He was prescribed medication to control the severe pain, but nurses decided to ignore this and refused the medication.

My son was left in agony and was offered no help with feeding or washing despite having to lie flat on his back.

On another occasion, he was suffering from pulmonary oedema and had great difficulty in breathing.

The hospital receptionist recognised his distress and quickly and kindly directed him to the resuscitation area, but a health care assistant (leaning against a wall) tried to obstruct his progress while reprimanding him for entering the area.

Fortunately, a nurse and doctor intervened and from then on he received excellent care.

It must be distressing and embarrassing for the conscientious nurses who try to provide good nursing, to be employed in a profession now so lacking in care.

We are now again in the midst of a proposed restructuring of the NHS, much to the disapproval of doctors, nurses and patients. Is it any wonder that the once admired NHS is now in complete disarray?

Beryl Bradley, Darlington.