"15 weeks in Cardiac in 2012"

Anything else?

In March 2012 I underwent emergency surgery for a dissected aorta with a further 5 operations over 15 weeks for various complication following surgery. This was divided into an initial 8 weeks, with home rest for 8 weeks followed by a further 7 weeks. During this time I stayed in the Intensive Care Unit, High Dependency, and Cardiac Wards E3 and E4.

My medical and surgical care was of the highest standard, and special thanks are extended to the consultants and their teams, and all the staff on the above named wards. I owe my life and well-being to them, and am only sorry I have not used this medium to report back before.

General comments: Staff dedicated and caring - I got to know most of them well over the time. The hospital has a justifiable high position in the country for cardiac care.

Room for improvement:

Firstly, the ward food by Steamplicity is of very poor quality. I managed to lose 3 stones without much effort! I have complained already, so enough said.

Trolley noise reaches jet aircraft decibels, as reported elsewhere, especially the water trolley. Could the budget not stretch to new silent ones, please?

Staff and public restaurant serves good food at fair price, but could staff discount system not be extended to include patients on long term care and able to get down to basement floor?Again,matter has been raised before.

Some tidying up and general improvement needed for what is now a very tired area - perhaps new paint scheme with cheerful colours?

Special thanks to the ice cream twins, mainly because of their names but also for such special care and atention with good humour. Cheered me up regularly.

Overall, an experience I would have preferred not to have but as it was I am glad it happened in Southampton General.