"Everything - that sounds strange ..."

What I liked

Everything - that sounds strange going into hospital for a hip replacement doesn't it? - but the whole experience was positive and uplifting right from the time I entered reception.

I liked the communication, kindness, professionalism and gentleness of all the staff from the moment I entered reception as a very anxious patient to the time I left and was courteously wheeled to my car on leaving and shown slowly and quietly how to get into the car properly with my new hip.

The whole experience was gentle, kind and courteous, very professional and even pleasant, I felt no pain, heard no frightening sounds, the nursing staff, anaesthetists, surgeons, doctors and everyone involved took time to explain everything to me in lay language, slowly, and answer my questions. This was reinforced by giving me printed information to take home for after care, which has proved invaluable. In fact I was even shown a hip joint and given an explanation of its workings. My suture line is dry and clean and after four weeks you can hardly see it, its a beautiful professional piece of work, and I feel wonderful - my special thanks to my surgeon and anaesthetist. One of the things I liked was being listened to, and time taken to reply in full. that led to my anxiety completely disappearing.

What could be improved

I have sat here thinking and trying to be constructive - but I can think of nothing that I feel could be improved.

Aha! I have found something - room for more cars in the car park.

Anything else?

No one could have been more anxious than I, going into hospital, particularly as I had been told I would not be having a general anaesthetic. Visions of the whole procedure rushed through my mind, and I worked myself up into a frenzy! how silly I was, in reality I was deeply and comfortably asleep the whole time. I woke up feeling wonderful, and was having my lunch two hours after that.

I am full of admiration and thanks to all members of the team, and totally convinced that when patients have good experiences like mine, they get better quicker - it is four weeks since I have had a new hip and I feel fantastic. So what did I learn from this experience - I learned to trust every single member of staff in the Peninsula. Cannot praise them enough.

lyta humphris

Plymouth