"I've been a patient at this ..."

What I liked

I've been a patient at this hospital since 1997, and it's fair to say that things have changed greatly in the past couple of years, many of them for the better. The food used to be awful, like 'prison slop' awful, but they are now presenting a greater variety of food that is of better quality and much healthier. They even accommodate fussy eaters such as myself, without a whimper of complaint. Hygiene has definitely improved, although I do think funding could be better used on things than disposable curtains (?), like blood pressure gauges and the like.

Nurses as always were amazing, and went above and beyond their duty. I am eternally grateful for their continuing support, they don't get the recognition they deserve. They all have expert knowledge in their field, and some of them have even saved my life (on more than one occasion). The more inexpert nurses do not last long....The doctors (particularly the registrar and SHO) cannot be faulted and they were willing to discuss every minute detail of my condition as often as I needed them to. To them I owe my sanity!

What could be improved

It's difficult to say as there are limits to what they can do in such an old hospital. I think that the 'new' policy of treating some patients in the day case theatre is not a good one. Those with a long term condition may find this deeply worrying, especially as the staff there don't have any knowledge of their long term treatment and are prone to view any complaint of pain with scepticism. I understand why, but it doesn't make it easier.

I think that a more accessible follow up policy would be great too. I have the confidence to demand help when I feel that I need it; not everybody has though. It's sometimes difficult to obtain post op advice. On the whole though, they're a pretty great bunch!