"V. good teamwork (Consultant, therapists, SW &..."

My mother has non-typical Parkinson's Disease and was in Potters Bar twice this year. The atmosphere of the unit is pleasant and overall the staff were competent, caring, cheerful and considerate.

Initially my mother made good progress due to the good physiotherapy and other care. The Occupational Therapist and Social Worker (SW) put a lot of effort into arranging for the correct home adaptions and care plan upon discharge. However, during the second stay it became obvious that my mother's condition was fluctuating and complex and that overall her illness was progressing quickly.

The consultant really was excellent, putting a lot of thought into various options, combining medical skill and knowledge with a very caring attitude.

Sadly, during her second stay it became obvious that she would have to be discharged into a nursing home, but they went out of their way to help as much as they could with arranging a good discharge.

Our only complaint was that staffing levels only allow for physiotherapy sessions once a day on most weekdays. My mother, particularly at the beginning, would have really liked more intensive physiotherapy as initially it really helped her improve her mobility. However, during other times of the day, the care staff try to take the time to help patients continue to build on their mobility e.g. help the rehabilitating patient to walk with a frame without feeling rushed. In summary, we feel very lucky that my mother was able to benefit from the excellent service provided at Potters Bar Community Hospital.