"Big improvement in my experience of Southern General Hospital"

I have been in and out of hospital with my condition for over 30 years. Six years ago I was an inpatient for 3 month, that length of time can make the most trivial incidents a devastating affect on your mind and well-being. But recently I was also in hospital for another big operation in 2011, same ward, same staff, and I was amazed at the difference.

The nurses/staff seemed to have more time and seemed more efficient than 2006, then they were more time spent at main desk arear (probably tied down with paperwork); they didn't seem to have more staff in 2011 but seemed more time in caring with the patients (which has a tremendous effect on patient well-being).

I think we are so lucky to have such a great NHS service and hope the government would reflect that in increasing the staff wages and conditions etc. But my main bug (no fault of the ward staff) is the food. It may be beautiful on leaving the kitchen, but I wish the managers could be forced to eat the dried tasteless food which confronts us at each tea-time. It has a dramatic effect on patients' recovery - my family and friends fed me so it was not my appetite.