"So friendly, warm and helpful"

Just wanted to leave feedback for the absolutely fantastic and stress free experience I've recently experienced on the Hilton Main ward.

From the very first consultation with Mr Bitar and telephone calls with his secretary (who was so helpful and patient. Thank you).

With my assessment appointments where they give you all the information covering the whole process before-during-after. Your given a number of a nurse who you can call if you have a questions at all.

To the day of my admission and operation.

You turn up at 7.00am to walk into a queue but the nurses call you in as per allocation and before you know it everybody is checked in and sitting by your beds. 

The nurse shadowed by a student nurse do all the admin questions ie. Medical history, allergies etc. Where with easy attitude and sense of fun this calms your worries, at the same time one of the surgical team comes and checks with you what procedure your in for and what side is being done and marks the area with a pen, again putting your mind at rest. Also anesthetist attends to explain their procedure and what will happen. Observations are done ie blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.

You then get changed into an hospital gown, dressing gown and full slips (none slip), then sit in your chair till they come and get you. I asked where I was on the list so I could have a better idea my op would be.

At 12.00pm the anesthetist came and got me and because I could walk a bit, we walked to the theatre (they have 7 theatres so nobody is waiting forever).

They explained exactly what was happening and exactly what was expected from myself to aid the administration of the anthestic. I had the epidural which numbs the lower half (this was the part I myself was most worried about). But again thanks to their ability to put you at ease and constantly explaining what was happening, there was nothing to it. 

The worst part was the cold spray they use to clean the area around the injection, but again warned me before they sprayed. Got to say the experience of my lower half going numb was weird and wonderful at the same time. 

They make absolutely sure you are totally numb before they push you through to the actual theater. If in any doubt because they do check you can't feel the cold spray on your legs they will wait obviously.

During the operation they can if you want explain what they're doing. I chose not to be told and leave them to it. There is a cotton screen put up splitting your top half from your bottom half for sterile reasons. The anesthetist even put on some music low for me so so there was some background noise and also chatted with me throughout the whole procedure which was really engaging. Once all completed they move you over to you ward bed and wheel you into the recovery area for approx fifteen minutes doing the ops and then onto another observation ward til they're ready for you on the ward. 

Everybody who I had contact with was so friendly, warm and helpful. Nothing within reason was to much to ask, so thank you to everyone on the Hilton Main ward, operating theatre staff, cleaners and porters. Can't thank you enough in fact.

Special mention to Student Nurse Paddington, glad we had a laugh and sorry I kept playing you up and also Gemma one of the anesthetist hope you like the TV programme suggestions.

Another example of the above praise. Just called my Doctors to book an appointment to have my clips removed, but surprisingly they don't do it and told to get back in touch with the hospital to sort.

So phoned Ward and Kirsty Senior nurse who was passing the reception desk answered,  took my details and requirement. Promised to speak the people concerned with sorting this by making telephone calls. Called me back as promised after a very short time with details of appointment.