"Medical Assessment Ward/A&E/Physiotherapy"

Anything else?

I was taken to A&E in April 2013 following the sudden onset of severe numbness and tingling in both legs that resulted in my being unable to walk. I was given emergency MRI scan to find out whether anything (growth, slipped disc etc.) was pressing on my spine and, when this proved negative, was admitted to Ward D1, the medical assessment ward, for further examination. After a further brain scan and a consultation with the neurologist from Salford who visits Bolton twice a week, I was diagnosed as having transverse myelitis, a rare condition caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. After spending just over a week in hospital, waiting for the diagnosis to be confirmed and undertaking some initial physiotherapy sessions, I am now at home beginning my rehabilitation.

I wanted to write this review to express my 100% satisfaction with the care I received whilst in the Royal Bolton. The staff I dealt with were, without exception, professional, caring, respectful and considerate. I received a diagnosis for this uncommon disease relatively quickly (and, from reports I have read on the internet since, this is by no means always the case). The cleanliness of the ward, and the attention paid to infection control, was spot-on. The food was fantastic - a very pleasant surprise given the popular myths about hospital food! Hats off to the kitchen staff for producing two excellent hot meals a day on what I'm sure is a very limited budget. And I was also very pleased to find out that you can now use mobiles phones in hospital, which obviously means that keeping in touch with your friends and family is so much easier and, consequently, you do not feel so isolated from the rest of the world during your stay!

The only criticism I have is that I would have liked to have known more about transverse myelitis before I left hospital, and to have had the opportunity to discuss the condition, and my prognosis, with the neurologist before I was discharged. I guess that the lack of this opportunity is due to the rarity of the disease and the fact that Bolton only has a visiting neurologist. As it is though, until I get a follow-up outpatient's appointment, I am having to get answers to my many questions from the internet - not always the most reliable, or reassuring source!

On the whole though, my stay in hospital was a very positive experience. Thank you to all the staff who helped make it so.