"John Ray Ward / Ortho - ankle reconstruction"

I spent 7 nights, mostly in this ward after badly damaging my ankle and needing an operation to put it back together again.

From start to finish (with only one tiny exception, nothing to do with the ward staff or consultants) I would say that my care was exemplary. I don't think I've stayed overnight in an NHS ward for over 30 years and given the negative press, pressure on staff and funding cuts was expecting things to be adequate at best.

No chance! Far better than that. Nurses, healthcare assistants, caterers, cleaners, doctors - all fantastic! Even the food wasn't too bad! I never felt like I was a burden.

My journey started in A&E on a Sunday afternoon. Somehow, they managed to triage me and get me in front of an Orthopaedic consultant within an hour and diagnose my injury as more than a fracture. Whilst I was expecting a 4 hour wait, a plaster cast and home for dinner, I instead got a week inside, a long operation and some metal in my leg - the initial response was excellent. To have the expertise on had at the weekend was reassuring.

Let's face it - hospital staff have a whole heap of challenging people to deal with and not once did I see exasperation, frustration or impatience. Always thinking of the needs of the patient.

I said that there was a tiny exception - just one of the many phlebotomists visiting the ward had a seriously bad attitude. To staff and patients. The only communication from them was surly and so heavily accented that no-one could understand and I saw them physically push past a nurse who was helping a patient. And not at all gentle with the needle. I got the impression that they were a regular problem.

But in my experience across a week - a complete one-off.

Overall, this hospital, ward and department seem to have a great culture and positive attitude.