"Care and excellence of Gastroenterology team."

Some years ago whilst living in Birmingham I had on going stomach pain, it's a long story so won't linger on that side, but I was told to "live with it" and given strong addictive drugs.

Three years ago we relocated up here. Bringing my symptoms with me which by now had worsened and dropped my weight to 6 stone, my daughter who was at that time a nurse insisted I present at A&E as the pain was unbearable and believe me when I say I have a very good pain threshold but I couldn't move without help! After a cold reception from a nurse in A&E I was admitted under the care of the Gastro team and I've never looked back. I had all the relevant tests - CT scan, ultrasound scan, colonoscopy (my first introduction to my Consultant ) who was second to none and tried to put me ease which may I add wasn't easy! Eventually I was found a bed on C3 the Gastro ward, I can't praise the staff enough, from the wonderful staff that tried so hard to keep an old run down ward clean they were so caring and friendly, polite and always knocked the door to the room I was in before entering.

It's a ward that also cares for people with alcohol and drug problems, so you can imagine the insults and bad language that was thrown at the staff by some patients that are on medications to help with the withdrawal symptoms, and the staff didn't batter an eyelid, I can't praise the Consultants, nursing staff, portering services enough, what I will say is that manners and respect cost nothing and it's a place to be made well (we all hope) NOT a hotel, so these people that have trained, and will continue to train to help make you better and keep you well deserve respect they deserve a thankyou, they are NOT there to get abuse or attacked!

So thank you C3 for pulling me back and making me well (as well as you can be with crohns disease) and thank you for keeping me as well as I can be. I was on that ward for 6 weeks, and wasn't told to go home and live with the pain, I was diagnosed and treatment started within days of being admitted I'm now 'healthier' than I have been for 4 year's and a stone heavier and it's all down to the wonderful staff on C3. Thank you.