"My recent inpatient stay"

Having just spent some time in Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, I wanted to share my experience of the care I received at the hands of our NHS while it’s fresh in my head. I am an NHS worker, I see first class care every day from my workplace and my amazing colleagues...care that isn’t always appreciated, let me tell you. Ive learned you can’t please all of the people all of the time. But to be on the other side is strange! I’ve had NHS treatment before for a few minor things, I had an NHS baby and my parents have both had first class, thorough care from our NHS over the last few years but I’ve never really thought about how lucky we are.

I had to seek out of hours care on Saturday afternoon. I was triaged, appointed a time with a doctor (at the weekend, mind) had tonsilitis confirmed and prescribed oral antibiotics. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough and in the early hours of Monday morning I went through this process again - this time sent via A+E to ward 5A. At handover time. Soz, my bad. 

However tired the auxiliary nurse, then the nurse then the doctor I saw near the end of their night shifts might have been, I didn’t know about it. I was treated kindly (I was a sobbing, drooling, tired and emotional mess by this time) I was empathised with, I was examined/cannulated/had blood tests done/had treatment commenced and tucked into a bed within the hour. Amazing. 

I was seen by the consultant an hour after that on the round. A consultant. For tonsilitis. A bit affronted, I felt like a total fraud because I’m pretty certain my out of control tonsilitis wasn’t the worst case she was going to deal with that day, but no matter she was reassuring, kind and lovely, and checked I was getting the right treatment. I was, of course - these guys were on it. She prepared me for a (worst case scenario) 48 hour stay and assured me I’d feel a difference after some good meds.

During the time I was there, every member of staff was pleasant, hard working and kind. I didn’t need to use my buzzer but if I’d had to, and for the ones that did there was always someone there to listen/fetch/soothe and sort out whatever it was. The team work I witnessed was incredible, and I enjoyed listening to the nurses and auxiliaries chat to their colleagues about their weekend when they had a (rare) spare 5 minutes. The ward itself was a bit tired looking - but it was clean and the domestic staff worked hard to keep it that way. 

I was assessed frequently and given IV meds regularly, got better quickly and although there was the obligatory wait for pharmacy meds to arrive (!) I was home 36 hours later feeling a whole lot more human than when I pitched up thanks to the ace care. I was given more treatment to continue, instructions to drink plenty, take it easy (looking forward to it!) and a letter for my doctor. Job done. Thanks Crosshouse, and 5A❤️

Our NHS is under constant scrutiny and attack but I can’t imagine what we’d do without it. It’s a no cost, when-you-need it service - that’s a privilege many countries in the world just don’t have. Its for everyone and anyone, however minor or major your illness and I believes the level of care we receive is on the whole, exemplary. Give it some respect, show it some love!

Anyway, I’m on the road to recovery, having also had lots of TLC from my lovely family (it’s one way to get your sis to get you new pj’s and it’s not even Christmas...love them!) I appreciate I’m really, really lucky that all I had to be worried about was dodgy tonsils but I couldn’t let this hospital stay go by without taking an opportunity to shout from the rooftops about how much I love our NHS. 

#saveournhs #itmightjustsaveyou #orsomeoneyoulove