I feel I must write this piece in defence of the NHS.

I get fed up with the constant having a go at the NHS. I myself only sing its praises.

Having been born with a heart defect, which was found at the age of five and referred to the Sussex County and then to Guy’s Hospital in London, where I had my first open heart surgery at 13 followed by another at 22 and my last one at 30 years old. I am now 65 and not in too bad health, thanks to the NHS.

Last year I had another health scare and spent a week in the cardiac unit at Royal Sussex County Hospital, and was treated great.

I owe my 65 years to the NHS. I have no complaints. The A&E gets its fair share of complaints. Do people realise that the A stands for accident and E for emergency?

Yes it does get choked with old people. That’s because there are not enough care homes. In my eyes the NHS is doing a great job.

Paul-John Harris, Newhaven