"Torbay hospital represents the very best of NHS..."

What I liked

I would like to take the opportunity of congratulating the staff at Torbay Hospital for providing the residents of our area with such an excellent hospital service. Twice in the last 3 months, my family has had reason to access the healthcare provided through the hospital. On both occasions I am very happy to be able to report that the care provided has been extremely good.

In September, I needed to have an operation on one of my eyes. I was treated as a day case by one of the ophthalmic surgeons at the hospital. From my first consultation earlier in the year to the day I had my operation and the subsequent aftercare, I have been treated with professionalism, courtesy and respect by all the members of the eye team at the hospital.

The aftercare in the recovery unit and in the eye unit was excellent and the nurses working in the unit could not have been more caring or helpful. I observed the eye unit staff making additional efforts to put elderly patients at ease and in making sure they had everything they needed.

Recently, my son broke his jaw quite badly playing rugby in a local derby between Torquay and Brixham. He was seen promptly and his injuries were rapidly assessed by the A&E doctors and a Consultant of the maxillofacial ward. She spent a considerable amount of time explaining the situation to my son and I and in identifying possible options for treatment. The Consultant arranged for a surgeon to perform the necessary operation on Sunday morning.

Torbay Hospital is clearly a very well run institution and the values of courtesy, kindness and professionalism have been on display in plain sight whenever I have had any dealings with it. This is truly a great credit to the work and attitude of its staff. I count myself very lucky to live in an area where my family and I have access to such a fine example of NHS care at its very best.

What could be improved

We have been extremely satisfied with the care provided by Torbay hospital.

Anything else?

I spend much of my time working on improving health systems in developing countries and I spent the first part of my career working in the NHS. So I have a little knowledge of these things and I have to say that Torbay Hospital exhibits all the symptoms of being a very well managed hospital. Within any organisation, the senior leadership team has a key role in setting the tone, behaviours and standards that are to be followed throughout it. It is vital that these are communicated, clearly understood and replicated throughout the organisation. It is apparent that the senior management team at Torbay hospital plays a very effective role in leading and managing this very important local institution.