"Minor ENT Op"

As an NHS employee I found myself "on the other side of the bed" this week when I attended for a minor ENT procedure at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley under the care of Mr Robertson and his team.

From the time of arrival I felt that I was in safe hands - the nursing staff at the admissions unit were friendly, approachable and caring.  When I was taken down to wait outside theatre the staff there were upbeat and friendly, even though I know they were surely run off their (clogged) feet.  Sal, Mr Robertson's registrar, a theatre nurse (Natalie) and an anaesthetic nurse (Mo) all came out to introduce themselves, explain what was going to happen, and reassure me that I wouldn't be too long.

I hadn't realised that I was getting the "full theatre experience" as I thought I would perhaps be seen in a minor ops clinical area, but it was off into Theatre 4 I went.  I was given lots of reassurance and Natalie bravely held my hand as I had some very nippy anaesthetic injections between my nostrils.  After that I couldn't feel a thing as both Mr Robertson and Sal opened the existing scar, removed a rogue piece of cartilage and then sewed me back together again.

I was able to walk back to the admissions unit, where I was offered time to recover if I needed it; however, I felt fine and was happy to simply change back into my civvies and get myself home as quickly as possible :)

We hear plenty of complaints and horror stories about the NHS, but it's just as important to balance the scales and talk about when things go well.  All the staff I met during my 'patient experience' this week made me feel proud to be part of the system and I felt safe and well looked after from beginning to end.

Thank you so much for looking after me, I really do appreciate it :)