"Excellent & Caring Staff"

I just wanted to take a few minutes to say that the all the staff involved in my small procedure today at Queen Victoria Hospital East Grinstead were excellent, caring, understanding and accommodating.

It was only a minor procedure under local anaesthetic, and was done in an hour. However I have severe chronic illnesses (ME/CFS, POTS, Fibromyalgia). I explained this to the nurse inducting me, who was very understanding and empathetic, listened and passed this on to the theatre team. The theatre team were also very understanding - I asked if there was anywhere I could lie down in the dark while waiting (30-45 min wait), and they managed to change the schedule so that I was seen immediately. They were all also very interested in my Severe ME, and asked a lot of questions about it during the procedure, to further their own understanding. 

All the staff involved were caring, understanding, listened, and tried to learn more by talking to me. They made very welcome accommodations to my care to try and help minimise the impact.

I’m in bed 22h a day with my illnesses, and so despite being a very minor procedure this was a major issue for me with potentially major knock-on effects to my symptoms for days afterwards. But the staff did all they could to help minimise that.

I have found knowledge and understanding of ME/CFS in particular to be very limited amongst medical staff (NHS & Private), despite it being severely debilitating and life changing. I often come across medical staff who do not understand, but also who do not seem to want learn more and try and help or even accommodate it. But the team at QVH were brilliant and helped restore some faith in hospitals and NHS staff.

Thank you 🙏