"All of the ladies were doing a job that they loved"

Having had bowel cancer a number of years ago, I was due to have check up colonoscopy at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline. Although perfectly healthy now, I suffer from severe “white coat syndrome” and was absolutely dreading the procedure. However, I knew it was something that had to be done. What a positive experience my visit to Queen Margaret’s turned out to be! 

Firstly, absolutely no problem with parking which made our arrival easy. Secondly, a genuine, very warm welcome from the lady at reception immediately eased my apprehension. Then it was a chat with Barbara, the nurse to go over the paperwork, have my BP taken and cannula put in. Barbara was so kind, caring and patient that despite my anxiety, I knew I was going to be alright. The three ladies involved in actually doing the colonoscopy couldn’t have been more professional and caring and before I knew it, it was over and done with and all clear! Then I was taken to recover for a while with a cup of tea and toast given to me by yet another cheery, smiling nurse. The whole experience was very positive and what a waste of time and energy all of my anxiety had been! The impression I got was that all of the ladies I came across were doing a job that they loved and cared about.

The only comment that I would like to add is that personally, I found the large screen TV’s in the reception area and the waiting area loud and intrusive. The Breakfast Time political chat certainly didn’t help my BP!! Perhaps the volume could have been muted and sub-titles shown instead? I also found this an upsetting problem when a number of years previously I waited from 7.30am until midday in a room at the Western General hospital in Edinburgh for my bowel cancer surgery. It just felt very inappropriate...

I would like to thank the staff at Queen Margaret Endoscopy unit for their professional and very humane attitude to their work. Please keep it up ...in case I need to come back!