"Best A&E EVER!"

I attended a doctors appointment concerning an old spinal injury that started causing me pain over Easter in my left arm and started to get worse. I told the doctor I would like some strong pain killers, stronger then over-the-counter medication. He prescribed me medication and it didn't work, so three days later I went to Fairfield A&E.

It was a Monday morning, entered at 9.35am and was greeted by a busy reception area.

I spoke to the lady manning the reception desk, told her my problem, and she recommended triage to look at my arm.

I sat in reception until 10.05am and was called in to see the nurse.

She listened to my problem, took my blood pressure and temperature and decided to send me to another part of the hospital (the 'urgent injuries department'?) to be seen by a doctor there.

A quick walk to this other department, booked in, and by 10.30am I was seen by a very nice doctor who went through the history of my problem and what it was I wanted that day.

He gave me a prescription for industrial strength pain killers and an emergency MRI scan.

By 11.05am I had left A&E.

In all, a very pleasant and fast experience.

My appointment for the MRI scan came in a day later.

I don't know what Fairfield hospital is doing, but they are doing it right compared to what you read in the media regarding other hospitals.

This is my second visit to Fairfield A&E, the last was two years ago when my partner was experiencing chest pains. She was taken in by ambulance on a Saturday morning to A&E and seen there and then, booked in and had an overnight stay whilst waiting results. Again, another pleasant experience.

Ten out of ten Fairfield and a gold star!

A credit to everyone working there, from the cleaners to the nurses, doctors and support staff.

Well done!