"A&E then Plastic Hand Trauma, Day Surgery and..."

Apart from the usual gripes about all NHS A&E departments (retreat from Moscow atmosphere - clogged with people who don't seem to be bleeding etc!!!!) I did get seen within two hours by the on-call plastics team by a very kind young doctor who treated me with a great deal of respect and gentleness - fantastic they even called me Sir! Then day surgery where a gynae consultant picked me up at the front door and walked me through the department. Then as the day went on competent nurses who smiled, really cared and could not do enough for me, supporting the doctors who knew what they were doing, explained it to me and treated me with respect and kindness. The contrast between NHS A&E mayhem, and this slick operation was marked - but filled me with confidence and hope for the NHS system. A few days later the dressings nurse and rehab folks were great - kind, sense of humour and oozing competence. The hospital is clean, modern and the staff (even those who stopped in the corridors on their own initiative to direct us) were all pleasant, kind, helpful and just what you would wish from a caring organisation.