I recently spent 16 days in Tauranga Hospital, and I want to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the care and support that I received from the ladies and gentlemen of the medical nursing and domestic staff of the Stroke Ward during that time.

The level of care, respect and concern for my wellbeing that I received day and night was phenomenal, and I was deeply impressed by the professionalism that I saw at every level.

I was delighted to note a few days ago that at last some visage of common-sense peeked through from a government not well endowed with that quality, and that nurses have been granted a badly needed improvement in pay and conditions.

They should not have been forced to wait so long for that recognition.

Stroke Ward I salute, and thank you so much.

Yours very sincerely,

W (Bill) Conroy, Tauranga.