"Amazing staff under immense pressure."

I have a chronic autoimmune condition and as such, have experience with outpatients care at a number of nhs hospitals around the uk. The Manor is a clean, modern facility, where patients with complex needs can access virtually any specialist needed under one roof.

Mental health services are right next door, at Dorothy Pattison Hospital and Sexual Health services are just across the street.

The department I visit most often right now is Rheumatology. When a typo on my prescription (a medicine that requires close supervision) was detected, it immediately ceased until all the appropriate tests and conditions were met. To this end I took a tour of the hospital, sampling the wide range of disciplines and the proficiency of staff in each.

I had x-rays and CAT scans in Radiology, where I've previously visited for ultrasound and MRI scans too. Dermatology is another haunt of mine. Here I've made use of purpose made uva and uvb vertical light therapy machines. I'm a frequent fliers with the phlebotomy department. Poor circulation means I'm quite a challenge but, they're always concerned about excessively sticking me with needles. How sweet! It's situated adjacent to the pathology laboratory, meaning blood results can be fast tracked, although I find they generally take no longer than 24 hours, to reach the requesting practitioner.

Other departments and clinics I can vouch for include cardiology, the new, multi-million pound critical care unit, accident and emergency, general surgery, Neurology, podiatry and physiotherapy. All of the staff have been attentive, professional, taking the time to make sure I was fully informed and comfortable. Despite the apparently large ratio of patients to staff, I've never felt that I wasn't treated with consideration, never rushed or as if my concerns were unimportant.

The principle complaint most often made of nhs services today is that of lengthy waiting periods. This is obviously due to underfunding, understaffing, excessive managerial positions and insufficient frontline staff. The staff that are expected to bear the burden of this patient load, are under massive pressure and vulnerable to burn-out. Nhs staff are some of the most skilled and proficient there are. Their expertise is legendary and has attracted doctors, nurses, anaesthetists, dentists, therapists and technicians (the list is endless) from all around the world to train here.

The hospital is responsible for meeting the health needs of 270,000 people. I believe it's amazing value for money. But universal healthcare only works when a sense of societal and personal solidarity exists alongside it. I suggest that this solidarity is in fact, akin to the chicken and egg analogy...did the nhs exist because of our British esprit de corps? Or is the nhs responsible for the unity?