"I felt like an individual not just a name on a..."

What I liked

On the day of surgery, there seemed to be a very slick, well-organised process in place. All staff knew what they were doing at each step. After seeing the nurse for pre surgery checks you were straight in to speak with the anaesthetist. Someone came to collect me for theatre and after a short wait you go into the anaesthetist room - I have to say on waking it felt like the best sleep ever!

From referral to the consulatnt in ENT to discharge after my tonsilectomy staff communicated with me and let me know what was happening. Staff put me at ease especially when they were preparing me for surgery and giving me the anaeasthetic.

I was given enough information before surgery to ensure i was well informed - too much information I feel can often cause a patient to worry unecessarily.

I was lucky enough to be first on the list that morning which I am grateful for because if i had sat there waiting for too long the nerves would have set in.

Although i was told i would not be given ice cream afterwards because they stopped doing that years ago, the lovely nurse on F5 did manage to get hold of some for me - I was not rushed out of hospital post surgery however i felt well enough after half an hour of coming round to sit up and drink some water and eat a yoghurt. 1 1/2 hour post waking up, I was getting dressed, calling my parents to pick me up and eating some buttered toast.

The surgeon checked in on me post surgery which was nice - wish i could remeber her name though but i was still pretty groggy.

I could not have asked for better care and I was not in any pain or discomfort until 2 days post op when, I think, the anaesthetic and hospital meds had left my system - the codeine and ibprufen were enough to make eating comfortable from then on though.

No follow up was necessary but I was told what to do if excessive bleeding occured.

What could be improved

It would have been nice to have someone (i.e- my mum who dropped me off) stay with me in the waiting area until i was called through - just to keep my mind from 'over-thinking' and stop me getting nervous. However, I understand why this is not generaly allowed because the waiting area is needed for patients. I was lucky that i was the first patient on the ENT theatre list so didnt have to wait too long.