"My only time in Leighton Hospital ..."

What I liked

My only time in Leighton Hospital was a week in Jan 04 when I broke my right tibia & fibula just above the ankle. Under the circumstances, very satisfied with the whole experience - from getting into the ambulance I wasn't in much pain at all, and was in Theatre within about 5 hours. Orthopaedic Red ward had only recently been equipped with individual tv's/phones at each bed (internet connection not working at the time) which were very useful for a patient who was perfectly healthy apart from being in plaster up to the knee! Patientline phones are not a cheap way to keep in touch, though. Food perfectly acceptable and in reasonable quantities. Physiotherapy staff very helpful in the 4 months I attended most weeks afterwards - I was a bit disheartened when the consultant in A&E said it'd be 9 months before I was back to normal, but in fact it was a little less than 6.

What could be improved

Communication between the hospital and GP practices: after a couple of weeks I needed to have the plaster cast changed, and I tried to arrange an ambulance to get to Leighton - my GP's staff seemed to find it unbelievable that someone in their 40s could have no family in the area, or friends who could provide a lift on a workday, so I had to arrange a taxi at some expense. The hospital staff, on the other hand, were very helpful when they found out what had happened and arranged an ambulance to transport me the next time, when the cast finally came off.