"Top class and person-centred care"

I was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus at the end of March 2023 after a hysteroscopy carried out by Dr Palmer nurse practitioner assisted by nurses Janet and Debbie ( all credit to Janet for keeping me distracted by encouraging me to chat about my pony and dog, excellent nursing skills, she deserves a commendation!) at Pilgrim hospital two weeks earlier. From referral at New Coningsby surgery end of Feb having seen post menopausal bleeding the week before. To my total laparoscopic hysterectomy with sample of lymph nodes removed at Nottingham city hospital mid May. 

The care I have received has been top class and person centred. The radiologist who did the ultrasound scan who sent me to the women's department and the radiologists who did the MRI & chest X ray on Good Friday were also excellent. The person who rang and gave me the appointment for the chest X ray after allowed plenty of time between appointments but there was flexibility to have it earlier if necessary. 

The oncology gynie nurses, Amy at Pilgrim Hospital Boston, Rachel at Lincoln hospital, Claire, Rachel and Rebecca at Nottingham city hospital plus Kelly the gynie department PA were all excellent. Even the people who rang with the appointment for the consultation with the oncology gynae consultant Dr Gajar at Nottingham city hospital and pre op checks with Jo the nurse who was lovely as well as the health care assistant who I liked very much and the operation were all very helpful and allowed plenty of time for me and my husband who is in the RAF to get there from Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The medical student who asked me questions before we saw Dr Gajar was also very nice and the fact that his father was in the RAF gave us something in common. This helped us relax at a very difficult time. In fact my husband has felt included and involved all the way along. He said that he wishes he had this type of person centred treatment in military hospitals and wards over the last 39 years. I have to say that the robotic surgery I had is really amazing, the fact that the gynie oncology surgeon Miss Gann could look at a screen and see an enlarged picture of my cervix uterus fallopian tubes and ovaries in 3D and operate the robot by remote control is absolutely amazing. 

It was good to meet with Miss Gann before the operation and ask questions as it was with the anaesthetist. I think Miss Gann deserves an MBE and if I could find I believe it is two other nominators I will do so! I have had keyhole surgery and I only had five fairly small incisions. As it was my first operation and I am in my 60's I was absolutely petrified. The anaesthetist Mark was extremely thorough and diligent. He was not prepared to operate unless there was an intensive care bed available because of my sleep apnoea. I have three other co morbidities asthma hypertension and above average BMI. I was able to give Dr Gajar the ongology gynae consultant who I saw for the initial consultation the contact details of my sleep disorders specialist Mr Cheladurai of the Bostonian at Pilgrim hospital which he found helpful. I also have to say that particular individuals in Harvey 2 ward at Nottingham city hospital such as Kelly the care assistant and the two care assistants were excellent. Nurses Lizzie and Daniel in intensive care were great too. I have to say that I think it's a crying shame that the gynae ward at Nottingham city hospital was closed. 

Last but not least Tim the student nurse who pushed my wheels chair ( needs must) to the car park and waited while my husband drove to the entrance to collect me was very caring and diligent too. On the whole I don't think I could have had better treatment if I had been a private patient. As a qualified and BACP accredited Person Centred counsellor I feel that I was shown the core conditions of congruence, empathy and positive regard as researched were shown to me most of the time during my treatment. 

Having grown up in the 1960s and 70s I am impressed with how much I have been encouraged to ask questions and been listened to with respect and have felt valued, respected and cared about as a result. I love to watch Call the Midwife on a lighter note but I am pleased that if I had to have a gynae logical cancer that I have had it in 2003 and not the 1960s in the days of Dr Turner and Nonatus house convent mission. 

 I am amazed at how much health care has improved in the last 70 years. My parents always thought that they had received marvellous care in hospital even when I was concerned about it. They were born in 1930 and 1931. They both died of heart failure and I am grateful that the health service has been able to control my hypertension. My maternal grandmother died of high blood pressure in 1955 the year before I was born. It seems that if your heart doesn't get you cancer will. Thank God for research and I hope in the words of Macmillan advertising campaign on TV together we can beat cancer. My father was born in Ireland and I am very aware that if it was not for people who came to live in the UK from other countries the health service would collapse.