A FELIXSTOWE man who suffered a broken foot after an accident at a petrol station has today praised the staff at Ipswich Hospital for his speedy treatment.

A FELIXSTOWE man who suffered a broken foot after an accident at a petrol station has today praised the staff at Ipswich Hospital for his speedy treatment.

New ways of working at the hospital with an introduction of an acute medical unit have meant waiting times in A&E have been reduced.

Clive Weaire 's dramatic weekend began when he stopped at the Morrison's petrol station in Felixstowe to fill his wife's car up with petrol.

He said: "I was just standing there putting the petrol in when I felt something nudge me and then all of a sudden I felt something heavy on my foot.

"I turned round and realised that it was a car behind me and it was on my foot. I tried to gesture to the man driving it but he did not realise and drove right over it.

"The pain was excruciating."

Mr Weaire's wife, who was in the car with him at the time, then drove him to Ipswich Hospital.

He said: "I didn't want to make a fuss by calling an ambulance as I didn't think it was that serious, but I was amazed by how quickly I was seen."

Mr Weaire, 55, of Coronation Drive, Felixstowe, was in and out of the department within an hour and three-quarters.

He said: "You rarely read anything positive about the hospital and I just wanted to express my thanks to the staff.

"Everyone that dealt with me was absolutely brilliant. My accident wasn't that urgent and I fully expected to be waiting there for several hours, but everyone was so efficient.

"They were always smiling and I want to give them the credit they deserve."

Chris Dooley, acting chief executive of Ipswich Hospital, said: "It is always nice to hear praise for this hospital and it is very good for staff morale."

Mr Weaire's experience is becoming increasingly common at the A&E department as waiting times continue to fall.

As Mr Dooley revealed in yesterday's Evening Star, less than 2pc of patients are now waiting more than four hours in the department.

Much of this is due to the hospital's Acute Medical Unit which opened in November and gives patients faster access to treatment.

What have your experiences of A&E at Ipswich Hospital been like? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk