"If you're having a heart attack, have it at York..."

What I liked

I was admitted through A&E with a heart attack. Throughout my admission and (5 day) stay staff were eager to make sure that I knew what had happened, what would probably happen next (which did happen; an angioplasty) and what would happen throughout the procedure. Staff treated me with 'just enough' dignity; they worked out that the way to keep me calm was to joke a bit and it worked out fine. There's a line between pompous and jokey and most of the staff who dealt with me got it 100% right all the time. Great people skills.

Staff on the CCU (Coronary Care Unit) where I was taken after the angioplasty were especially great; they're in such a position of responsibility yet are so down-to-earth (and happy to clean up blood after I leaked a bit).

Regarding cleaning, a relative of mine was in York Hospital in 2000 at which point cleaning was very poor; bloodstains (not his own) lay under his bed for a week. York Hospital really has sorted the cleaning issue out between then and 2012.

The food was, unlike most stories about hospital food, extremely good. I want the recipe for their lamb and bean casserole.

It goes without saying the medical treatment was excellent. I'm fine now and the cardiac rehab has done me proud.

What could be improved

I was admitted at around 4pm on a Thursday. Friday I was being stabilised, then everything seemed to stop for the weekend. I even wandered offsite for a cigarette (yes, I was on 40 a day. This has stopped. Completely) on the Saturday to be told my consultant had been on the ward looking for me. I didn't realise consultant cardiologists worked on Saturdays – maybe someone could have told me, or even phoned me). My fault really, but perhaps a point where communication could have been improved.