"caring and professional - a model for the NHS"

Anything else?

After receiving surgery on Lloyd Ward for what turned out to be a pantaloon hernia, I feel compelled to write and thank the staff who attended a very apprehensive me so kindly. First contact and admission with the nurse was very calming, followed by a very kind gentleman anaesthetist who took me through the forthcoming proceedure taking great care to help me with my needle phobia. Special thanks also to the nurse who saw me through pre-op and wake-up, a lovely student nurse whose name unfortuately I cannot recall, and to another member of staff who kept my pain down and spirits up prior to discharge. The surgeon, who was most encouraging, also took the trouble to come and see me before I left which was much appreciated. The ward was immaculate, privacy respected when necessary, security was good,

The only alarming moment was when one loud and aggressive nameless female member of staff came onto the ward and yelled at us in general "have you had been done ?". The context of this short rhetoric was baffling to say the least, given that we all had on gowns, wrist bands, ankle bands and special white socks. Even the most dim-witted could have seen that we were all ready and waiting for our turn on the slab, without disturbing the calm engineered up to that point.

This was my first general anaesthetic experience and I only hope that if I ever need any more surgery, it will take place here (hopefully minus the virago!).