"Patient and caring staff"

After only an eight month wait, I was admitted for a hip replacement at Forth Valley Hospital under Mr Syed. From the consultant down the staff were lovely.

Admission put me at ease and took me through the process smoothly. I was then escorted to theatre where the anaesthetist, who was wonderful throughout, administered an epidural, which didn't hurt a bit!

The operation lasted a couple of hours and I was conscious throughout. I then moved to recovery and, as a bed was not available till 6.30, a nurse chatted to me the whole time.

I was then taken to a ward with four beds and the good care continued. Staff day and night were patient and caring, making my two night stay as easy as possible.

I cannot fault the experience except for the lack of information beforehand. As I had only two weeks' notice I was unable to get on to one of the educational classes. I tried phoning Arthroplasty but they didn't allay the few concerns I had. So I watched the video that was recommended. The sound was poor quality, too quiet and the content of diagrams largely unhelpful, I had telephoned the hospital some weeks before enquiring about the classes but was told I could not enrol for the classes till I had received a date.  This system needs to be improved. Hence I went in with concerns that could have been answered.

I am now recovering well. My thanks to all concerned.