"I felt safe and cared for"

I had been trying at my local Gp (Ashgrove) to have an IUD fitted for over a year with no success due to shift work and other requirements so I booked an appointment through chalmers in Edinburgh to have a contraceptive device fitted at a different local centre. Howden health centre was the earliest and nearest appointment I could have so I booked in.

I arrived with my partner and was greeted by two members of staff who I can't remember the name of (think one might have been Linda). They were friendly, approachable, patient and so kind. They put me at ease straight away just by their general manner and their use of humour. I sat for a short time then was approached by a smiling doctor called Sarah, and taken through to the treatment room.

Again, her smile and attitude was so friendly and attentive. Sarah really is an asset to the nhs - right from the beginning her professionalism, competence and compassion shone through. She involved my partner by letting him sit with me through the initial consultation and procedure itself. The information she was giving was easy to understand, and she had a little visual representation of what would happen which was helpful. Keeping the patient informed throughout definitely eases anxieties. The procedure itself was not as bad as I had anticipated and I truly believe it is due to who I was looked after by. I felt comfortable and relaxed in their care and I can't thank them enough for making such an intimate, undignified situation the best it could have been,

After the procedure my blood pressure and pulse had dropped a little, but again they reassured me with smiles, water and chocolate until I was feeling myself again.

I could not pick a single fault. As a nurse in the nhs myself, it's never nice being the patient but I felt safe and cared for throughout, so thank you again!