"The care I received on ward 40 ..."

What I liked

The care I received on ward 40 has been outstandingly excellent. I have been a nurse for 15 years (I am not and never have been employed at the RVI so this is an unbiased report!). I have a long term condition and have been cared for in several hospitals. I am pleased and grateful to say that the care I received from every single member of staff at the RVI was of an extremely high quality. The communication skills among staff were fantastic and my husband and I were treated with compassion and respect at every stage. I was included in decisions and was given choices and enough information to make those choices at each stage. The ward was extremely well cleaned by a team of cleaners who were friendly and compassionate. The nurses were impeccably well dressed and well groomed, they introduced themselves at each encounter, they washed their hands before and after each patient contact, their technical skills were very high, and they were compassionate, gentle, friendly and humourous. The doctors were knowledgable and friendly and my consultant was extremely compassionate and very highly skilled in giving me the appropriate information at the right times to make difficult choices. They even held my hand when I was distressed after theatre. Without me requesting it, they chose to make their surgical incisions at an old scar site so that my abdomen would have fewer scars. This and other decisions demonstrates such care and concern for my long term well being that I am moved to tears writing this. I am so humbled and grateful to have been cared for by such a fantastic team. Thank you so much to all concerned.

What could be improved

I honestly cannot think of anything that should be improved.