As an ex-employee of the NHS, it saddens me to have to write a letter of criticism.

But this in no way reflects on the front line staff, the doctors and nurses, who work hard, despite the general incompetence of the higher-paid and under-worked administration.

I retired from the NHS on December 17, 2006 after a mere 38 years' service.

Despite this, in August, September, October and November, 2007, on checking my bank statement, I discovered that I had received further pay cheques.

I advised the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre of its mistake on the December 2, 2007, and after convincing the hospital of its error, I repaid the amount.

The cheque cleared my account on January 2, 2008.

I never received an apology, thank you or a logical explanation of how an employee could still be paid eight months after employment was terminated.

I wonder if other people have been similarly "lucky".

I did hear during my time working there that one employee had been overpaid by an amount running into thousands of pounds, which she also sent back, without an apology or thanks.

I also had difficulty obtaining my "long service award" of £199 in vouchers because they had lost my employment contract and they requested my copy to prove my length of service. It doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

All this seemed like just a bad memory until today when I received a letter from the NHS payroll office asking me to pay the amount again.

I telephoned them and asked what they would do if I refused to pay and I was threatened with legal action.

I must say the thought of that seemed quite tempting since I had already paid it six months earlier and it could have been a lot of fun, but I informed them of their continuing incompetence and perhaps that will be the end of the matter.

But then again . . .

Mrs G Lee, Burford Road,Witney