YOU truly see the kindness of human spirit when others are in the most need.

After Sunday’s heavy snowfall, the ambulance service were stretched beyond their means and every bed available at Colchester General Hospital was full.

Hospital staff took the decision to appeal for nurses who were with their loved ones, tucked up in their warm homes to come in and help out because of the unprecedented demand and the fact colleagues could not get in because of the conditions.

Amazingly, at least 25 members of staff dropped what they were doing to come in and help out.

The dedication to their work is outstanding.

It takes a special sort of person to be a nurse or work in the medical profession, and those who gave up their time to come in and help showed all the necessary qualities.

The hospital has taken some criticism from health inspectors in the past few months and years.

Of course, we are hoping they are now at the beginning of an upward curve following the latest much improved Care Quality Commission report.

But despite all the flack which has been received, it is very rare for anyone to have a bad word to say about the staff there.

They are kind, they are caring and they are prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty for people who have found themselves in hospital who are definitely poorly and almost certainly unhappy.

Never was that more evident than on Sunday night when the chips were down and they needed more people to come in and help out.