SIR,

I am compelled to write to you in response to the letter from Joyce Compton regarding care standards at Monnow Vale.

I am currently a patient at Monnow Vale for the second time this year, having each time transferred here to recuperate from treatment at Neville Hall. I cannot recognise the critcisms of staff attitudes or care levels outlined by Ms Compton in her letter. On the contrary I find the exact opposite.

At Neville Hall I had the sensation of being part of a huge technological repair system. The staff as individuals were good, but too many of them, too much going on, no real personal contact. Here at Monnow Vale the staff work within a more relaxed, personal regime, very friendly, and very caring and considerate. The differences reflect I guess the different purposes of the hospitals.

I feel sorry if Ms Compton's mother received a less than good experience, and I'm sure the staff here would do everything they can to put things right. Where I take issue is with the knee-jerk reaction of writing to the press and publicly attacking the reputation and good works of this place.

One bad experience does not accurately reflect the entire institution, and usually a quiet word with staff gets much better results anyhow. They too are, after all humans.

Grace Bevan

(Monmouth)