Of course people worry about catching infections in hospital.

It's an understandable fear that being treated for one condition will lead to something else.

When I was rushed to St George's at the beginning of the week to have my appendix removed, those thoughts crossed my mind.

Part of the reason for this fear is the scaremongering by people such as Councillor Ian Hart, which I was confronted with when I read the paper on my return home.

My experience of the doctors and nurses at St George's couldn't be better. Within five hours of going to accident and emergency, I'd had my appendix removed by a surgeon.

He explained to me exactly what was going on and allayed my fears. Over the following two days, the nurses operated the highest standards of cleanliness and got me on my feet again in amazing speed.

We must have full trust in our NHS and my experience gives me no reason to doubt my complete faith in it.

It's only scaremongering and naysaying from people such as Coun Hart that weakens that trust. This panic mentality is bad for everyone - patients, staff and the local community.

It's time it ended.

Wesley Ball
Via email