"Utterly brilliant service"

I saw a brilliant doctor yesterday at the Urgent Care Centre. I had already been to one A&E Thursday night, was then referred to Kings Emergency Health Care hospital Friday morning. They could find nothing wrong. My GP was unable to see me and reluctant to prescribe me any painkillers as this was a ‘dental problem’. However, the dental hospital had told me they were not allowed to prescribe me any drugs either.

Eventually the GP prescribed me Naproxen over the phone. I picked this up from the pharmacy but this did not touch the pain.

Luckily the pharmacist suggested I visit the Urgent Care

Centre at Guys.

I just want to thank you so very very much for this service. I was seen by the consultant and he was able to diagnose me with Trigeminal neuralgia. Two nerve pathways were causing the problem and I was in pain constantly with no let up, rather than having -as I understand it- more traditional episodes of pain.

The consultant preserved me co codamol and this did the trick and for the first time for a week I was out of pain. So first of all I would like you to pass my thanks on to him. As well as being very competent doctor, he treated me in a professional and warm fashion which I very much appreciated.

Secondly, I would also like to compliment you on way the Urgent Care Unit was run. The seats were comfortable, the receptionist empathetic, BBC 1 with subtitles was quietly playing as a distraction, and the loos were clean. Also I noticed that the Dr and nurses on duty came out and called the names of the patients loud enough for them to hear. Again if a patient wasn't there, about 15 minutes later they would call again. This was in stark contrast to my experience at the other A&E the right before. All the staff appeared professional, alert and caring.

Thirdly, the pharmacy staff were also really efficient and quick. I asked if they minded if I drank a coffee while I waited and they are fine. The whole hospital appears to be very patient centred and geared towards providing a service.

Fourthly, what a good looking hospital. I have never been there before but it looks gleaming and the coffee shops staff were also very nice and the range of goods on offer was great.

I know these might seem odd things to notice, but compared to the other hospital it was just appeared to be so well run and the organisational culture - to an outsider at least - seems very healthy with staff who seem in touch with the aims of health care.

Please can you pass on my thanks to the staff team and especially the consultant. I was in the most dreadful pain and it is so good to be out of it now,

I would recommend Guys Urgent Care unit to anyone!