"Like it used to be"

I have been a patient at the RVI for 22 years and over the years I have been very well looked after by numerous nurses, health care assistants, doctors and consultants. However, in recent years I feel the services offered have slipped in quality, not because of the wonderful staff but because of the increasing pressures on them to meet targets and from management. I digress however. On Saturday 22nd November I was admitted to Ward 45 day surgery ward for a planned procedure which I had been waiting for for over 4 long months. I have nothing but praise for the nurses who were running the unit for us 8 patients on a WLI list , nothing was too much trouble. The anaesthetist was wonderful, spending time with each patient and of course the consultant was, as always, fantastic. I had previously been winging about the wait for a date but I think I would much rather wait to have this wonderful service in a unpressurised environment. It reminded me of the way it used to be, when medical staff actually had time to spend with a patient rather than rushing through the many patients they have to look after. Please pass on my thanks to those mentioned above, they made the whole day much more relaxing and less anxious.