AS junior doctors strike for the first time in more than 40 years, one woman has paid tribute to the Ealing Hospital staff who cared for her sick mother.

After 29 years overseas, Ewa Kedzierska returned to Ealing in November last year to visit her 86 year-old mother, Maria Kedzierska, when she fell ill with pancreatic cancer.

Ms Kedzierska said she was was worried after hearing many horror stories about the current condition of the National Health Service, but she was impressed by the quality of care her mother received.

She said her mum, who lived in Birch Grove, was seen within 20 minutes of arriving at Ealing Hospital.

“The system really is efficient," said Ms Kedzierska, who lives in the United States.

“I do not have enough words of thanks to everyone involved, and the NHS proved to me that it works.”

Campaigners were among 38,000 across the country to strike from 7am on Tuesday to protest against contract changes proposed by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The government says it wants to improve patient care on the weekends, but junior doctors say they will be working longer and for less pay.

Ms Kedzierska said the NHS was something Americans could 'only dream of' and she could not thank the nurses and doctors at Ealing enough.

“Their dedication and professionalism has to be recognized on a wider scale,” she said.

“Even the support staff at Ealing Hospital helped me with getting a letter out to the airline as I had to change my travel plans.”

Her mother spent nine days there before moving to Meadow House Hospice, where sadly she died last month.