"3 days in MAU The Alexandra hospital Redditch..."

Having been diagnosed with suspected pneumonia during a home visit by our wonderful GP from the Alvechurch Medical Centre, I was taken by ambulance to the Alexandra hospital.

The two ambulance paramedics were most caring, attentive and reassuring and handed me over to a most efficient doctor at the Alex who after a detailed examination gave the situation details to my wife and I before I was transferred to the 6 bed MAU ward and immediately placed on intravenous antibiotics.

The treatment and support in the ward was second to none and the best care that I have ever experienced in a UK hospital over my 78 years of any NHS treatment.

Consultants were excellent in detailed examination and giving me information on my infection and progress. The nursing staff were wonderful in their attention and total caring to all of us in the ward during my time there plus the ancillary staff were a credit to the hospitals superb operational efficiency. Even the food was a delight and eagerly awaited at each session and delivered by smiling and kindly staff who went out if their way to make patients most comfortable.

A most welcome element to the final process of my stay at the Alex was the use of the discharge lounge whereby patients are gently prepared for home release into the hands of their waiting loved ones.

All of my experience over these 3 days was in total contrast to what I had expected after being subjected to the two years of media pounding on the poor state of our Alexandria hospital.

Now for me it is not a case of "Oh No Not The Alex" but now "Yes Please that hospital will certainly do".

Please except our grateful thanks to all the local area medical staff from our GP and the two ambulance medics plus consultants, doctors, nurses and all the caring staff at our now wonderful Alexandra hospital facilities

Larry and Margaret Harberman