"Always available and happy to listen"

As a fit and active man in his 60's I was shocked to realise I had suffered a heart attack. This was in July this year.

I was treated initially in Hairmyres A&E, followed by Acute Admissions, Cardiology Ward and Cardiac Catheterisation Ward. I also had various tests in different departments e.g. chest X-ray, ECG, Echocardiogram.

In every department and ward I found the staff to be very professional, caring and understanding as well as always available and happy to listen to any issues you might have.

All the staff made me feel very comfortable and at ease despite my concern about my heart condition.

Following my successful angiogram procedure and fitting of a stent I was discharged with all the necessary medication and paperwork required for my GP.

At my post Cardio appointment the senior Cardio Nurse explained in excellent detail what I had been through and what the recovery and rehabilitation process would involve.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation programme was recommended and I enrolled to start the following week.

The classes involved warm up and warm down exercises with resistance and strengthening routines between. The classes were very professionally run by the Physio and assistants and there was also a senior medical presence in attendance throughout.

The classes also included talks and presentations on various aspects of rehabilitation which were very interesting and informative.

The ability to mix and chat with others who had similar cardiac episodes and procedures/operations helped build confidence for the future.

I would like to thank all staff at Hairmyres who cared for me and treated me throughout the whole process - you are a credit to the NHS and Hairmyres in particular.

I wanted to relate my positive experience as we hear so much negative criticism of the NHS.