"I was taken by ambulance following ..."

What I liked

I was taken by ambulance following 999 call from my home suffering acute pain in the back and kidney areas. The ambulance team (and the control services) were excellent and on arrival at the JR emergency department, the clinical team took over.

The care from start to finish was extremely good with excellent communication with me and liaison between the clinical staff:

I was particularly impressed with the care taken to investigate and diagnose the problem - kidney stone - and then to alleviate pain and watch.

The medical student who asked v politely if he could take my blood, did so very skillfully and inserted the cannula without any pain. The nurse who spent most of her time with me was extremely kind, professional and understanding. The consultant was aboslutely terrific and overall I cannot thank the staff for making what could have been a very frightening experience - not exactly a pleasure - but an experience I could cope with because I knew what was going on at all times.

The trouble taken by all the staff to keep me informed was remarkable and I am most appreciative.

I was then transferred to the clinical decision unit to spend the night with a clear understanding of what was going on and how the next few hours would 'pan' out.

Although the night was difficult I was able to make it! and left hospital the next morning after a full nursing and medical review with information on what to do next

10 out of 10 all round

What could be improved

the tiniest comment - it would have been better to have been on a larger trolley/bed in the CDU but ........