"I have had many visits to the ..."

What I liked

I have had many visits to the hospital over the last 18 months and have been very grateful for the time taken by everyone in the Day Surgery Unit to explain and reassure me about the formalities and procedures. This extends from the staff in reception, the nurses in the pre and post op areas and to the anaethestists and urology surgeon. Though clearly busy, all were courteous and caring at all times. I trust that the value, not just cost, of each and every contribution is fully appreciated by the Trust's Management Board, which has overseen such well recognised performance over recent years. The hospital would surely not have achieved its impressive rating were it not for the evident teamwork within and between each of the disciplines. Thank you.

What could be improved

Is it necessary to provide patients with printed copies of the procedures (eg cystoscopy) and "Coming into Hospital" forms at every visit if both the staff and the patient agree that the patient already has or fully understands the relevant information? With 300,000 patients per year there may be potential savings to be made without jeapodising safety. After all, the Consent Form 1 fully covers the procedual aspect and is backed up by the patient's signature.

It also seems that other information is replicated on the remaining forms given to patients, such as the telephone numbers to ring - "Coming into Hospital" and "Information for Carers" and references to pain control - as above. Could these two forms be combined and called Coming into Hospital and After-Care" perhaps on one double sided A4?