"Thank you"

I attended A & E on the 11th March because I woke up in severe pain.

On arrival the machine started to work: blood test, ECG, urine test, blood pressure, temperature. I then waited to see the doctor, no point seeing him immediately as he has to wait for the results.

The doctor was amusing, friendly and explained what he thought the issue was and then prescribed pain relief - he said these are magic with a massive smile, he was not wrong!

I then went for a CT scan and waited for the result and the doctor explained the issue (kidney stone). He explained that the file has been sent to the Urology dept for specialist advise.

I was feeling a bit low at this point and a man walked in offering drinks and biscuits - he had the broadest smile and sat next to me for a couple of minutes discussing which biscuits he thought were best. What an amazing man!

I struggle to get to the toilet and a cleaner offered me some help - amazing.

Of course the Urology dept has its everyday patients and in addition A & E work. The wait was about 2 hours - I don't think that was to long.

Everyone looked overworked, the work is relentless, it never stopped just watching the volume of patients was a surprise. I saw nothing but kindness and felt nothing but empathy from a brigade of people that sometime feels undervalued and overworked.

I watched a senior nurse trying to arrange transport for a patient and the carer. She looked utterly exasperated and then turned to the patient and kindly explained the situation.

My experience was beyond my expectations and I only hope that you manage to pass on my thanks to everyone who was working on the 11th of March. Perhaps - the cleaner thinks 'I'm only a cleaner' and the biscuit man: 'I only give out biscuits' you are wrong! You both made a difference to me.