I DO hope that future possible patients of the GWH will not be struck down with fear and trembling following the recent attention paid to the superbug.

In late August 2002 I was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital with encephalitis, a nasty virus which can apparently attack the brain after lurking about for many years.

While receiving intensive care the superbug took full advantage and got in on the act.

Thanks to the excellent and devoted treatment by a host of NHS professionals and, against the odds, I not only survived but now, two years later, am my old horrible self but 66 instead of 64.

As a non-medical person I would think that considering that as reportedly half the population is going about with MRSA up their noses with no ill effects, MRSA is seldom the primary cause of death but an opportunist secondary bug.

Today nobody is supposed to die of anything but, if they do, then somebody must be to blame, thus the fixation with the superbug.

If the figure of 721 deaths in England and Wales over a year is correct that works out at less than two a week, hardly something to get excited about.

R J HARVEY

Lyneham