"The best possible experience"

I attended Strathcathro Hospital last week for a Septorhinoplasty Operation.  I am in my sixties and was quite anxious about the procedure. I live quite a distance away from Strathcathro but due to hospital delays I was asked whether I would accept an operation at Strathcathro rather than my usual hospital. I agreed.

On arrival at the Hospital I felt a great comfort in the look of the grounds and the hospital itself. It still had a small community/country type feel. Having previously spent five weeks in another hospital which was an unfortunate experience, I started to feel more at ease as soon as I reached the reception desk.

I received a warm, personal response from the Nurse/Secretary behind the reception desk. Informing me that she knew that someone from my area would be arriving that day and asking if I had a good journey. She helped with the necessary paperwork and then personally walked me to the ward that I was to be in for the rest of the day. She chatted away as if we had known each other for quite some time, although very professional. I was instantly put at ease, and then introduced to a nurse from the ward. 

Again, the nurse was extremely friendly, lots of smiles going around! She fully explained the course of the next few hours and gave me my pre visit instructions before the Junior Doctor, Consultant and Anaesthetist arrived to see me. All three were excellent and put me at full ease. My Anaesthetist was particularly friendly, and chatted about my previous operations and any difficulties I had experienced with prior anaesthetics, there was even time for some light hearted conversation about our age similarity. 

I was in a very small ward with day patient cases only. It was bright, airy and clean. The nurses on duty were happy and attentive. Plenty going on with other patients. 

I was told that I was going to be first on the schedule for operations. I was still feeling a bit anxious.

Around 9:30 a young nurse walked with me down the corridor to the pre operation room, where I was to have my anaesthetic. She happily introduced me to the Anaesthetist and two of her nurses. All three were amazing, they introduced themselves and were chatty, smiling, reassuring, and obviously had a great team effort going on. They helped me feel fully at ease, and explained exactly what was going to happen. I felt so relaxed, to the point that whilst lying on the table chatting about my three dogs, and their dogs,  I fell asleep! only to wake up several hours later lying upright in my ward bed being handed a cup of tea and a cheese sandwich by a very nice nurse who was also gently trying to get me to wake up fully. 

After a few more hours, I was told that I would be going home and that I could get dressed when I felt like it. All I had to do was wait until a nurse was beside me before I tried to get out of bed. Don't do it on your own, as you are still drowsy.

My visit to Strathcathro Hospital for a Day Care Operation was the best possible experience that I could have had. It has reassured me of the NHS here in Scotland, I feel incredibly lucky that although I had a long wait, the experience itself (which is free) was of the highest quality and I can only thank the staff at Strathcathro Hospital for everything that they have done for me. 

Thank You All. Dr Ram, Dr Lele, Emma, and all the other lovely nurses whom I do not recall.