I write in response to an article in the county edition of the Evening Press about North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors ('Three-hour wait for doctor 'too long'', August 16).

While I agree the report is tragic and upsetting, I feel it has done a great injustice to a very good service. My husband was recently taken ill and I contacted the service to seek advice.

I was immediately called back by a doctor who, upon being told of his symptoms, decided on the quickest course of action. We arrived at Monkgate and were seen by the doctor who suspected meningitis. My husband was immediately given precautionary antibiotics and admitted to hospital.

This process took 48 minutes from the initial phone call to arriving at York Hospital by ambulance.

It was confirmed that my husband did have group B meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia from which he is now recovering well. But without the quick response of the NYED we may have had a very different outcome.

While the circumstances of these two stories are different I feel it is unnecessary to even consider an overhaul of the service based on only one account. The service we received was second to none.I congratulate all the people involved.

Laura Arundel,

Kingsway,

Stamford Bridge, York.

Updated: 10:06 Thursday, August 26, 2004