"Excellent orthopaedic treatment."

Last February, while waiting for a total knee replacement of my left knee, I slipped in the snow and twisted my right knee, with subsequent bleeding into the joint. The pain was unbelievable. My GP came out to the house (in a rural area) within 20 minutes, and prescribed morphine. I saw the consultant at hospital in Kendal 36 hours later, and an arthroscopy was performed within 3 weeks.

6 weeks later, my left knee was replaced at the same hospital, Westmorland General. The atmosphere was very friendly and supportive, nursing care and physio first rate. The only hitch was a delay in discharge because the pharmacy was closed over a bank holiday (false economy?).

Now, 3 months later, I am pain free and fully mobile, able to walk more than for years. Yet "they" are talking of cutting back services at Westmorland General. That will mean a journey of over an hour to get to the nearest hospital.