"Impressive Care and a joined-up approach"

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In October 2016, I went in to Rochdale Infirmary for arthroscopy and rotator cuff repair.

The entire process from start to finish has been positive and extremely thorough.

On the morning of the surgery, I got a call from the hospital asking me if I could get there sooner so that I could have the operation at an earlier than scheduled time.

I arrived at Just before 10: 00 and met with the health care assistant who went through some information and where things were. I was then taken through to the office where I met the registrar who went through the procedure with me, the anaesthetist Mr Eskander then joined him and was thorough with regards to any allergies I had and providing me with information on the anaesthetic and nerve blocker they were going to use. Finally, Mr Kapoor (the consultant) came and spoke to me and was very reassuring with regards to the process and what to expect.

From that I got ready for the procedure and was taken to theatre where everyone was very friendly and reassuring. I woke up post operation in the recovery room. The two nurses present Kim and Nicholette were Cheerful and very efficient. I enjoyed a lovely sandwich and two cups of tea. Mr Kapoor visited me to explain the surgery to my shoulder. I then rested until being discharged at 14: 45 and was given all the information about referral to community nursing team for dressings to be changed and to the physiotherapy department at Oldham hospital by Nicholette.

I was taken to the Departure area, where my husband was updated on how I was and how the procedure had gone.

Once home I arranged the community nurse appointment at Werneth Primary Care Centre for the following day. At the appointment, they told me that I had Sutures and gave me a date for when they would be taken out. I was also given advice on other aspects of caring for my arm and found all the community nurse’s I saw at these appointments very helpful and pleasant.

Before the date I was given Mr Eskander rang me on my home number to ask how I was post-surgery, as they were monitoring patients who’d been given general anaesthetic to see how they were feeling.

A couple of weeks after the surgery I was due to attend my first physio appointment, as I had started with a bad cold and chest infection I had to cancel this. However, this was promptly rescheduled for the following week for me. I have now had my 4th physio appointment and I have been told by the physiotherapist that the range of movement has improved. Subsequently, I have been referred to the shoulder group and have my first session  in December 2016.

In November I was still having considerable pain, and although from the information given I was prepared for this I decided that I would call Rochdale Infirmary Day Surgery Unit for advice. I spoke to Nicholette who advised that I shouldn’t be experiencing the level of pain that I was, and promptly booked me an appointment with Mr Kapoor for Wednesday that week at Royal Oldham Hospital.

I attended the appointment and Mr Kapoor decided that a steroid injection would be beneficial and would help to reduce the pain. The injection was administered during my appointment. Again, all the staff encountered were very helpful and pleasant.

I had my next appointment scheduled for December and a further appointment in March 2017 where hopefully I will be discharged.

Throughout this entire process, I have been very impressed at the level of organisation and efficiency displayed and at how helpful and caring all the NHS staff I have come in to contact with have been. On top of this, the joined-up approach between services has been excellent.