A friend of mine and myself, both retired nurses, discussed the recent news of patient deaths in the NHS, as we have done many times in the past.

We were both trained between 1955 and 1960, when nursing training was disciplined and intense.

I arrived at 18 years old and lived in a nurses’ home, complete with a manager in charge of us. This was a good way to start living away from home.

Lectures were given by highly-qualified nurse tutors for three months. We covered so many things which are ignored today. Hygiene was most important and, of course, our uniform had to be spotless.

The ward sister would inspect you as you arrived and you were sent back to the nurses’ home if anything was wrong.

Post-op patients had a nurse who sat at the side of their bed until they were better. There were no visitors allowed.

We covered the various diseases and the care of bed patients, moving them every hour if required.

It was considered to be a disgrace on the ward for a bed-sore to appear. And the fury of the ward sister was severe.

Lena B Simmons, Portfield Avenue, Patcham