"I received world class service"

I was admitted as an emergency patient from Shetland and in my opinion I received world class service.  My daughter picked me up from the airport and rushed me across town parked handily then I was whisked through the maze of corridors and multi coloured zones before we alI stepped out of a huge silver lift onto the 6th floor. 

I was so anxious and nervous  I walked a bit then a friendly voice immediately said - welcome to our hospital are you down from Shetland  we are ready for you,  go down to the desk and report to my colleagues your on ward 212.  The friendly voice belonged to the Lead Chargehand Nurse called Michael,  he was very efficient and busy,  constantly checking if everything was okay with me during my stay. I immediately felt less nervous and relaxed.

I was shown to my bed and the nurses made a fuss of me,  they were all so friendly, helpful and caring. My next visit was from the Anaesthetist -  he was extremely professional and so thorough, asking me in depth questions about previous notes contained in my records ,he pointed out that I might feel nauseous, groggy, sleepy and have a headache when I came around but he nailed it. I didn’t feel any of that I just disoriented and a bit groggy  but within an hour I felt brand new and was euphoric as I knew that I had been on the cusp of having an impaired hand.

I am just about to enter retirement after spending 50 years using hand tools and my first retirement job of teaching our first grandchild had already been assigned to me and a gammy hand would be no use to me.  I was that relieved that I didn’t sleep all night I just sat up in bed telling the nurses they were doing a great job and any one else who would listen to me how wonderful I think the NHS and how lucky we are as a country to have it.

My next visit was by the surgeon he as well deserves a mention, in his pre op brief he was very careful to explain to me that the potential for me to lose the use of my index finger was a possibility but unlikely, he also said the finger might not straighten or it might be numb along with other digits but an unlikely possibility ,he thoroughly explained what the procedure entailed and what his expectations were and he too was bang on the nail, he even visited me the next day to ask me how I was feeling and was very reassuring, caring and friendly.

I got kept in on antibiotics the Thursday night and was handed over to the Orkney and Shetland Discharge Nurse who was excellent she is very efficient and moves quickly, very friendly and effective - a human dynamo.