"A serious thumb injury and the many staff that..."

In February 2016 I sustained a serious thumb injury requiring treatment from several departments at Ipswich hospital.

You don't realise how many people become involved once you walk through the doors of A&E.

It starts with the receptionist, then the triage nurse, the radiographer, followed by the nurse practitioner. The following morning you walk into the fracture Clinic and you're greeted by a volunteer, the receptionists and nurses/health care assistants. Then you see the Consultant(s) who organise further tests. The tests involve an ultrasound at the x-ray department and following

this an MRI-scan. You meet receptionists, nurses and specialists. You speak to the x-ray department secretaries, the secretaries of

the Consultants and even the staff of the Ipswich Hospital switchboard . Initially I was given a cast (all done in the plaster rrom), but it became evident that I needed an urgent operation, because the injury wouldn't heal without some sort of surgical intervention.

The date was set on the day of the junior doctor's strike on 10 march 2016. Prior to this I needed some socalled pre-op tests.

On the day itself I was greeted by ward staff, nurses ,and health care assistants and I even spoke to the cleaner. Then I was collected by the Theatre assistant and wheeled to the operation room, where I met the Anaesthetist and further staff. The consultant was already waiting for me and I knew I had been added to their emergency list. A recovery nurse woke me up and brought me back to the ward where I recovered for the rest of the day.

During the 2 weeks leading up to follow up I had trouble with my plastercast, but a quick call to the plasterroom solved this problem and I was seen within the hour and the cast changed.

Today I had my follow up and again at least a handful of staff were there to help me dead on time of my appointment. Removal of sutures, new cast etc.

I have yet a while to go to full recovery, but I wish to thank everyone who so far have helped me and a special thanks to the surgeon.