I recently spent ten days in the Spinal Unit at Southampton General Hospital, and I saw first-hand just how dedicated and kind, the nurses and doctors are.

My bed was close to the nurses’ station, so I could see how they do work, nearly non-stop, and at the end of their shifts they are exhausted. Always at the beck and call of their patients, whether the call is urgent or trivial.

They are noticeably short staffed, and my heart went out to them. In my opinion they deserve every penny they get, and definitely deserve more pay.

I could hear the camaraderie amongst the nurses, and how the more experienced ones would automatically help the less experienced, and the different nationalities would chat during their break, and tell each other about their own countries’ traditions.

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School leavers, please seriously consider a career as a nurse or doctor.

I saw how rewarded they were to see a seriously ill patient come in, and to nurse them back to good health.

Mr Starmer, please give them all the pay rise they truly deserve, as I found out during my ten days I was in the General.

A very grateful patient.

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