Just prior to Christmas my sister in law had a stroke affecting her left hand side and was admitted to Tauranga Public Hospital but is now under 24/7 care at Althorpe Hospital Tauranga.

Prior to going to Althorp, the public hospital told her they would remove her wedding ring before she left public hospital as it was tight on her finger and was affecting circulation.

That never happened.

We rang around some jewellers to seek help and asked if they could visit her at Althorp because of her condition and cut the ring off and that we were quite prepared to pay for their service.

No-one was interested. Amy, an administration officer at Althorp, had the bright brain wave of ringing the fire service and yes, later the same day, four fire officers in their uniforms turned up at Althorp and cut the ring off. No charge as they used the occasion as a training session.

They showed extreme professionalism and excellent sympathy to sister in law and it went down like a treat for the elderly and staff at Althorp Hospital.

Thank-you Tauranga Fire Service and Amy and staff of Althorp from Maide's family.

Ron Burgess, Pyes Pa