A retired nurse who dedicated 40 years to working in the NHS has praised public heath services and the staff who are faced with "enormous pressures". 

Bernice Burton specialised in caring for people with rare blood conditions, particularly sickle cell and thalassaemia, and was awarded for her services the year she retired in 2009. 

She says the "relentless negative stories sap the morale" out of the staff and says it is time to redress the balance. 

Below is her first-hand account. 

"Here is my story to try and redress the balance. 

My husband Leslie Burton was admitted to Whipps Cross Hospital with overwhelming urinary and chest infections in November.

He was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease in 2009.  

At the beginning of November he became so ill I called our GP for a home visit. Leslie needed admission to hospital and the ambulance arrived in less than an hour. 

They were very professional and caring, my husband was taken to A&E where he was seen quite quickly by a team and started on treatment. He spent 10 weeks in hospital.

I can say that throughout his stay I had no concerns about his care.  He received excellent care from all of the healthcare team on Mary Ward. 

Every day we read negative stories about the NHS, but I spent 10 weeks visiting the ward daily. 

I saw the enormous pressures the staff worked under; the many challenges they faced as they cared for elderly confused patients. 

Yet they did their jobs with cheerfulness, patience and kindness.

The NHS is a large organisation and as with any other large organisation, things do not always go right all the time.  

Sometimes the behaviour of one individual can make a lot of difference either positively or negatively.

We should all look at what we can do to engage and help make things better for everybody

The NHS is a unique institution. No other country in the world has such a comprehensive healthcare system free at the point of use. Despite its weaknesses and shortcomings, we should value it.

Almost daily there is a negative story about the NHS in the media. Very little is ever heard about the thousands of positive stories. 

So many people are successfully treated, restored to health and return to their lives health and happy. 

These relentless negative stories sap morale and devalue all of the many wonderful people who give so much to the rest of us.

Mr Burton can no longer be cared for by Bernice at their home in Margaret Avenue and lives at Forest Place Nursing Home in Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill.

Mrs Burton worked in Waltham Forest as a health visitor at Dawlish Road Clinic for 12 years and spent two years as a midwife at Whipps Cross maternity ward from 1984 to 1986." 

In a new series on the NHS, the Guardian will feature experiences of patients, their families and staff of treatment provided across east London and west Essex. As A&Es continue to struggle with demand and politicians argue over the future of healthcare, we will publish first-hand accounts, features and news stories on the latest developments. We want to hear from you if you have something to say about your local hospital, GP surgery, or clinic. Click here for contact details of reporters covering your area. Alternatively,you can submit a story here.