"Fantastic, but i would like to have been..."

What I liked

The Consultant. Without doubt he has changed my opinion of the NHS for the better. He listened to my problems, he reviewed what had already happened to me, he told me what he was going to do about it. He gave me the time to understand the procedure he was going to do to rectify the problem.

Even during the operation he kept me informed as to progress and how well it was going. For anyone in this situation (implantation of a pacemaker) it is a very unsettling time in your life. Most importantly i had no idea of what was happening initially or what to expect - but this was my second time.

On another note i have always found the nursing staff at this hospital to be excellent, as were the ambulance crews i have come to know.

What could be improved

Almost all of the good comments could be reversed the first time the procedure was done. First of all to be told quite bluntly that i needed a pacemaker was quite a blow to someone who considered himself reasonably young and fit. Secondly, although i was given all the relevant information booklets i never really understood the procedure or what to expect from it - i was simply told that i would be able to return to a normal life (if not better).

On the date of the procedure i went through the conveyor belt and was duly delivered back to the ward for recovery. I was shaken by the hand on completion of a successful operation. However all was not well. One of the leads touched on my frenic nerve (unlucky i was told), and the location of the box was uncomfortable (that's where they always go i was told). At no time was i asked how i felt during the operation, and after all i was awake during it for that very reason.

This comment is not by way of complaint - on the whole i was very happy with my treatment, after all it had probably saved my life. However if i had the Consultant on the first occasion i suspect i would not have had to go through the procedure a second time.

Anything else?

Please don't promote the Consultant or hide him away from what he does best - dealing with patients.