"Hip replacement August 2014"

As someone who has had two knee replacements, two shoulder replacements and up to the beginning of August one hip replacement in the last ten years, all due to arthritis, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on hospital stays in the wonderful county of Cornwall. In all of my previous stays I have been lucky enough to have had nothing but excellent care from the NHS but rarely can these operations be considered a pleasure. The Duchy Hospital, however, will from now on be looked at as in a different class altogether. In every aspect of my stay the care I was given was exceptional, the surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, catering and domestic staff at all levels gave me the impression that, at all times, I was the main source of their concern. There was always time for me, no bell was left unanswered and anything I asked about my care was discussed and explained or dealt with straight away, including one embarrassing moment that a 72 year old gentleman might not like to discuss! Such was my care and efforts of the physiotherapists that I was able to go home some 72 hours after my hip replacement completely happy and confident. It might be said that as the Duchy is a private hospital, albeit caring for NHS patients, the staff were under less pressure than is normal in an NHS hospital but I'm sure that there was not a pool of underemployed staff as Matron was spotted carrying out the drugs round. I and my painfree left hip thank all the staff at the Duchy.