"A stay in Stoke Mandeville Hostpital"

I came in to A & E with a persistent backache which developed into one of my legs not working properly. I've never spent a night in a hospital before. A & E was - quite naturally - chaotic, since everything turns up there from a nosebleed to something more serious unannounced. Reasonably quickly, I was shuffled through the system and after a scan, sat down in a quiet room and  was told that I was seriously ill with a cancerous lesion, which had been attacking my spine. Admitted, more scans and then Mr Blagg came to see me to inform me of what was to happen - a six hour op to replace the rotten bit of my spine. Bit of a shocker, but I felt in totally capable hands.

Surgery over, of course I felt dreadful when I awoke - and for the next few days on Ward A as well, but the level of care supplied by the nursing staff was exemplary. I know that it's their job, but the way they went about looking after me went far beyond that. I know that apart from the medical side, run by the NHS Trust everything else at Stoke is outsourced, from cleaning to porterage to catering: again I cannot praise this part of the organisation too much - seamlessly integrated into the nursing side and  their care and attention was beyond any criticism.

I spent 14 days at Stoke, and I know this means I was seriously ill when I arrived. I was discharged just before Christmas and am now at home where the physio team are working at getting me back to normal.

We hear a great deal about how stretched the NHS is, the mistakes they make and so on. My personal experience here is a testament to the truly top quality service I have had - a huge, huge thank you to everyone who works there. However insignificant you may think your actions are, I do hope you know what a difference you make to your patients.