"Delighted with my care."

On Sunday evening I was unlucky to suddenly suffer an attack of severe abdominal pain.

I was taken by ambulance to A&E at the Northumbria where I was diagnosed with pancreatitis. I was admitted to Ward 3 overnight and went for an ultrasound scan the next morning. This revealed gallstones so I was then scheduled to have my gallbladder removed that afternoon. All went well with the surgery, apart from some pesky stones that were stuck and couldn't be removed. They caused another bout of biliary colic that night but the pain was dealt with with Oromorph, and subsequently IV Morphine when the pain wouldn't settle. The stones eventually passed and the pain subsided. I was then discharged home on the Tuesday evening.

I cannot fault the care that I was given.

Everyone I came into contact with was caring, helpful and professional. Nothing was too much trouble and everything was explained clearly. Considering the number of departments I passed through on this brief, but busy, stay I think that that is worth commending.

Paramedics, A&E staff, Porters, Nurses, Ultrasound, Ward staff, Theatre/Recovery staff, Doctors, from Consultants to Medical students. Every single one of them a star and a credit to their profession.

I will be writing to each department individually to thank them for their outstanding care but felt that I needed to make my positive experience public. As a nation we have a tendency to only comment when there are negative things to say. This gives a skewed impression. Whilst there will always be times when things don't go according to plan, and people are therefore unhappy with their care I believe that these are in the minority.

So, once again, many thanks to all involved in my care. I hope not to see you again in the foreseeable future :) but if I do need your services again I will at least be confident and happy that I will be in the safest of hands.