"Our recent experience following admittance to..."

I am not one for writing reviews but felt strongly that it was important to provide this review and to offer some background and perhaps some insight and support to others who may find themselves in a similar position to us. My wife has suffered for some time with CFS/ME and a little over 2 years ago following an MRI a Meningioma was found that measured 14mm the condition dictated that it should me monitored and two more scans were conducted with no change and then after 6 months another scan was taken and the tumour measured 17mm so very little change and the next scan was scheduled for 12 months. For various reasons the scan was delayed and at around 16 months my wife had a seizure and was rushed into our local hospital St Peters in Chertsey, where they conducted a CT scan and found the tumour had increased in size to 44mm which caused symptoms similar to a stroke and caused some paralysis to one side of her body. They stabilised her condition administering steroids to minimise pressure on the brain and arranged for her to be transferred to St Georges, Atkinson Morley (neurology) in Tooting. The Consultants and all the staff in Brodie ward did their very best to accommodate us and after 2 days performed surgery on my wife. The procedure lasted approximately 2 - 3 hours and we were informed that all went well and the procedure went according to plan. After staying in recovery for some hours she was transferred to ITU and stayed there for 2 days and was provided with superb care throughout. I cannot speak highly enough of the Doctors and Nurses in Neurology ITU the attention and care they provide was fantastic and I will forever be grateful to them all. Following her spell in ITU she was transferred back to Brodie ward where again she was given the very best of care. For us this was a near-death experience for my wife and there were times when I thought she wouldn't make it through this episode. The whole team's dedication to saving life and giving hope where at times there is despair is commendable and will never be forgotten. It would be remiss if I did not single out a couple of nurses who where utterly devoted to their craft they were so caring and a credit to St Georges Hospital. I think the facilities and the physical set-up of the neurosurgery department is second to none and the Surgeons and the Operating Theatre Staff were amazing. I truly felt that the level of care and kindness was very special. I wanted so much to write and express my thanks. You often see negative reports appear in the media about the NHS and some are probably justified, but I have nothing but the highest praise and heartfelt thanks for the standard of care provided by St Georges NHS trust. I believe very strongly that the NHS is the jewel in our country's crown and it is the Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses and support staff that make this so.