"A continuing story of success"

Anything else?

I was discharged on 23rd December after 13 days as a patient in wards A1and A12. Some years ago I was was non executive Director of the trust and saw many areas of service that could clearly be improved (partly by increased funding and partly by changes in working patterns and quality standards). The changes in both care and environment were extraordinary. Firstly staff. At all times I was treated with respect. I never once had a concern about the professionalism of the staff. I could see the logic of their thinking, and respect them for their determination to get to the bottom of the circumstances that caused my admission, and this is still ongoing. There is a lot of discussion currently about 'end of life care' but I saw in practise high standards, with the patients voice being listened to, especially by the Staff Nurses and Junior Doctors on ward A12 The environment has largely be transformed. Of course it would be nice to have upgraded windows and more spacious bathrooms, but when it came to theatres and x-Ray etc facilities I could find little fault. What a difference! I had for many years concerns about the standard of food served to patients. In my experience over 13days the meals were well prepared, with plenty of choice and hot when served. I do think there could be and improvement in how meals are presented - most trays were bent - and the provision of a napkin would have been nice. The ward always had a warm and friendly atmosphere, and only on one occasion did I feel that conversations between Healthcare Assistants and cleaning staff were inappropriate and should have to be confined to the lunch breaks and after work. Daily routines need to be reviewed. Could the timing of blood pressure checks be amended so that patients were not woken so early - a pattern dating right beck to the Work Houses. Finally I do wonder if patient throughput could be increased by greater integrated management of services - I waited two days for a colonoscopy I'm now a proud resident of Stockport who had confidence in our local hospital service.