"After having what was my first ..."

What I liked

After having what was my first Asthma attack i arrived at the hospital around 930am by car with my husband. I was almost immediatley taken through to triage to see a nurse and within minutes taken to a bed, changed into a gown and put onto a nebulizer. The staff were so efficient that this has all happened in the time it took my husband to park the car and come and find me. My asthma stabilised and i was allowed to go home at about 2pm.

Later that day my asthma got worse again and i went back to A&E, and again was immedialty taken through to triage and saw a nurse and a doctor. Although i had to wait slightly longer after about an hour i was in a bed, and taken for my second x-ray of the day.

I was later moved to the EMU where i stayed for two days. The staff there were very helpful, but obviously rushed off their feet. there did not appear to be enough nurses working on any of the shifts that i saw whilst in the hospital. (not there fault at all and they worked wonderfully as a team.)

The food was good during my stay, and the catering and cleaning staff where friendly. I saw cleaners throughout my stay on the EMU, and felt that the EMU was as clean as i would expect it to be.

What could be improved

Initially put into a mixed room, although later moved in a room with three other women. I accept that i was moved as soon as I could be.

Doctors did not appear to clean their hands or use the antibac gel between patients at any time during my stay.

Anything else?

In the last ten years i have visited Whipps everytime that my father was a paitent on Elizabeth ward, in ITU, the EMU A&E and have always found the staff to be friendly and helpful. There are times where they appear to be understaffed, but this could probably be said of any hospital.

When my father died in the EMU the doctors were excellent and explained everything to myself and my family.

I would have no hesitation in going to Whipps or of telling others of all the good experiences that i have had.