While the wait for surgery was longer than I'd hoped, it’s something I fully understood given the current pressures on the NHS. Once a date became available, however, everything moved quickly and efficiently. I received a call for my pre-op appointment, and just three days later, I was in for the procedure.
The pre-op nurse was excellent—warm, friendly, and reassuring. She made what could have been a stressful experience feel calm and manageable. On the day of the surgery, I arrived at the Day Surgery Unit and was welcomed by a nurse and healthcare support worker who were absolutely fantastic. They were attentive throughout, regularly checking on me and ensuring I was comfortable. It was clear they genuinely cared and took pride in their work. One of them was always present, which helped reduce any anxiety I was feeling.
Before going into theatre, I was visited by the surgeon, anaesthetist, and anaesthetic nurse. This personal touch made a huge difference—seeing familiar faces before going under helped to ground me and ease any last-minute nerves.
The real standouts of my experience were the anaesthetist and the anaesthetic nurse. From the moment I was taken through to the area before theatre, they were both incredibly personable—chatty, informative, and professional. They kept me engaged in conversation, which didn’t give me a chance to dwell on any worries. Their teamwork was seamless—like a well-oiled machine. Both clearly knew exactly what needed to be done and when. They used humour appropriately, maintained professionalism, and above all, made me feel safe and well cared for. I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better pair to support me through that part of the journey.
Although I was asleep for the surgery itself—which is a good thing!—I’m grateful that everything went to plan with no complications.
When I woke up in recovery, the care continued to be excellent. A nurse stayed by my side the entire time, keeping me informed, helping manage the post-op pain effectively, and explaining what I was feeling in those first groggy moments after anaesthesia. They were kind, calm, and reassuring.
Back in the Day Surgery Unit, I was again looked after with genuine care. The nurse responsible for me until discharge was fantastic, providing additional pain relief at just the right moment, which meant I was able to mobilise, get changed with dignity, and didn’t require any assistance—something that meant a lot to me.
Overall, I’m incredibly grateful for the care I received. From start to finish, every member of staff I encountered treated me with compassion, professionalism, and respect. While no one wants to go through surgery, I feel very lucky that when I did, it was with the team at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
Thank you all.
"Day Surgery team showed compassion, professionalism and respect"
About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Day Surgery Forth Valley Royal Hospital Day Surgery FK5 4WR
Posted by novembercc98 (as ),
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference
››
Responses
See more responses from Mandy Clark