"I went in for a planned aortic ..."

What I liked

I went in for a planned aortic root and valve replacement and I stayed mainly in the Paul Wood ward (the GUCH ward since Im a GUCH). I was hoping the hospital would be at the same level as another hospital I know well, the GOSH. I like it because I could discuss about the operation in advance with the consultant cardiologist and I had a good Q&A session and he was frank and answered all my questions the best as he could due to the limited number of cases. When I was at the hospital I was treated very well, the consultants came to see me daily and made sure I was diong well and the nurses where always helpful (sometime even too worried to hurt me with injections!) and always present when I was in need, day or night and they always call you by name which is nice, it makes you feel less in hospital and more like at home. I used to ask many quesitons to the doctors to try to find out more about the treatment/medicines and they were never shy to answer and to engage in discussion/expanation about my treatment. The TV room was great and even the food was not that bad (and its an italian writing). I had a physioterapist to help me to walk again which was helpful for when I left the hospital. The hospital is clean. If I had to be operated again I would put it as first choice.

I would like to thank the nurses and the doctors for looking after me so well and for doing such a great and difficult job at the Brompton.

What could be improved

Before I actually entered the hospital I was hoping to find out asap the date of the operation (my parents where coming over from China) but I only had 4 days advance notice. It also helps psychologically if you know when the date is