Last October, I was diagnosed with a non-fatal condition but one which was irritating in view of the fact that I was always the kind of person who could never sit still for five minutes.

When the doctor asked me whether I wanted to stop working, I relished the thought. After 20 years of working at St Luke’s Hospital and then at Mater Dei, I felt I needed to put my feet up permanently. I also tended to make other people’s problems my own, which certainly was not a plus given my condition, which, though not life-threatening, still presented problems and adding to them was not going to do me any favours.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the doctor who detected my problem soon after my arrival in hospital and the doctor who prescribed the right medication. But, most of all, I thank them for their smiles. Their attitude helps people not fearing hospital.