"Quadricep Tendon Repair at George Eliot, Nuneaton"

I fell down the stairs and ruptured my quadriceps tendon.

I was rushed to George Eliot hospital, Nuneaton and was seen straight away by a doctor who diagnosed the problem in a matter of seconds.

I was admitted to a ward.

I was fitted with a Canula which made my hand swell up. No one seemed to bother with it, and made excuses, but after asking several times, it was finally removed. The second canula I had which was now loose and causing pain, - took about 12 hours for me to get removed.

The nurses were often rushed, but friendly, and all the equipment I saw was state of the art with electronic beds and everything. The anaesthetist was fantastic and very gentle, and I got all the medication and pain killers I needed, and more on top just in case.

I was starved for two days having been put on a short list waiting for the operation, but that didn't bother me.

For four days, from the time I was operated on, I did not see any doctors.

Physiotherapy was co-ordinated and structured with the doctors and knew exactly what I had to do.

The only truly bad thing, was the mix of people in the wards. As well as half the people like me, convalescing, there were some elderly gentlemen, who couldn't control themselves properly, and with nurses not coming around regularly, nurses would have to clean up a lot of mess. It also caused a problem at night when one poor gentleman kept asking for help every five minutes.

After a few days of this, and feeling humiliated being asked to try walking but having the walking frame moved away, I broke down in tears.

Discharge came, and I had to travel home in the back of a car without a seatbelt because they would not provide patient transport.

Follow up however was fantastic. Every two weeks, I got to see a doctor and had the ability to ask questions. The appointments processed is streamlined and very efficient ensuring you are seen quickly and by everybody who needs to see you.

Eventually out of the cast, and had physiotherapy at George Eliot, appointments were kept to time, and they got me going very very quickly. Within six weeks I had dismissed the crutches and had full range of movement.

Aside from the problems on the ward, I think you have to look at these things as a whole, and the end result was absolutely fantastic and second to none. They did a fantastic job. The PALS service too were wonderful, chasing and finding information for me if I had any questions and was unable to go into the hospital.

It's a clean modern, efficient hospital with staff who are can't do enough for you.

Thank you George Eliot.