"Very happy to see that you can ..."

What I liked

Very happy to see that you can place comments about your own experiences with the NHS on this website.

I was in Hope Hospital for 9 days in April 2007 on the Eric Rawlings Ward and they made my very first experience as an in-patient in any hospital that more bearable and reassuring. And I can admit now it was surprising to myself as much as everyone else who knew me that I had to go into hospital in Salford instead of where I live in Wigan.

I found the staff extremely professional and you could trust them because they really knew what they were doing - I think my confidence in them might have got a little high as I never had a pre-med before my surgery, which I even thought was weird for myself as I usually get terrified over those type of things! They also helped to aid my recovery from my operation very well as the staff and everyone else could make it clear without using any words that they were not in their jobs for the money, it was because they really cared about people and reassured you that you were recovering well.

I told my friends that when it came to being treated in hospital, Hope Hospital surprised me so much but in such an excellent fashion. My friend's boyfriend's sister is currently being treated in Hope Hospital at the moment as well after being terribly ill quite a while back and from my experience of the care I received at Hope, I could reassure my friend's boyfriend's family she would be well taken care of.

And I don't think you learn to appreciate the hard work that the doctors and nurses working in the NHS do until you find yourself having to be treated in hospital with your life on the line.

What could be improved

I couldn't point out any particular things that could be improved from my experience of being in hospital through Hope and the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. Everyone has their own different views about the care they received in hospitals and to have their own opinions is fine.

Why I say there is nothing I could point out certain things that could be improved is because I felt that the care I received was, to find a suitable term, 'flawless' - I could not have wished to be treated in a better hospital that Hope and in particular the Eric Rawlings Ward.

I could genuinely speak very highly of everyone who looked after me.