"Staff on Langdale Endoscopy Unit Fantastic"

Anything else?

This week an appointment came for me as had to go for a repeat procedure, and I didn't want to go! It was for an inspection of the upper gastrointestinal tract with a flexible endoscope and biopsy. I was very nervous, as when I went for the same procedure in 2011 I found my overall experience was not good. I didn't give any feedback last time as I was so upset by the whole thing and I thought it was just me being neurotic. Anyway, I decided to go as it's for the good of my health as they say and when I arrived on Wednesday a nurse came to collect me from the day room and immediately she put me at my ease. I was asked questions and given the chance to ask her anything I needed to know about the procedure. She kept me informed about what was going to happen and told me the name of the consultant who would be doing the examination, I had never met him as he was not the same consultant who did the procedure on me in 2011. The nurse asked me if I was having the sedation or just the throat spray. I had the sedation last time and it didn't seem to help me, I remember everything that happened and found it very unpleasant, I definitely did not feel sedated and was upset and the consultant seemed offhand with me. So I decided that this time I would try just having the throat spray even though I would be fully concious and was very nervous. Then the Consultant came to introduce himself and asked me if I was ok and if I wanted to know anything. He put me totally at my ease and I felt confident in him as he was so calm and approachable. The next minute he came back for me and we just walked into the procedure room, he explained everything that was going to happen and the two nurses were both friendly and helpful. He told me that the throat spray would numb the local area but that I would still want to gag as the scope passed down my throat. My tummy might make some funny noises. The important thing was to keep calm, breathe and listen to the nurses instructions. It was all over in no time and far better for me just to have the spray.You can go home more or less straight away and for me it was less traumatic. The important point I was to make here is that the different experience I had this time could have been down to the choice of spray or the sedation, but I think it was totally down to the staff making me feel so looked after and cared for. It makes a great deal of difference to some patients how the staff talk to you, their body language and general demeanour I have to have this investigation once every 2 years, and for me the way I was treated this time, with dignity and the friendly staff, means that I will gladly return when called in to the department the next time.