"Great Experience of Various Services"

I have had the requirement over the last year to be seen by 3 different services within the hospital.

I continue to attend the hospital for Venesections at the clinic run with so much care and respect by Cath.  Cath always has a warm welcome for all her patients and does all she can to make the visit as pleasant as possible.  She has had a challenge with me as her patient due to the very difficult access issues I have with my veins however she looks in to what we can try to ensure success and will engage the help, support and advice of others to ensure I get the best outcome and level of care.  I have been attending the clinic regularly since April 2019 and am met with friendly smiles and hellos from all of the staff I pass on my way to the clinic which is so nice.  I cant thank Cath and David enough for all they do for me in my treatments.

I have also been seen recently by the Ear Nose and Throat clinic and had the same positive warm welcome and genuine care and interest to ensure I was fully informed and comfortable with the treatment I was there to receive.  I was treated with kindness and respect at all times.  In the past hospital visits could feel a bit transactional however I have never felt this way at Forth Valley.

The most recent visit was to the Gynaecology clinic.  Again I was met at the reception desk with a friendly welcome, smile and eye contact.  I was feeling a bit nervous however the care assistant was really friendly and asked my permission to have a junior doctor also sit in on my consultation which I agreed to.  This was done in a very thoughtful way, out of the earshot of others and before I went in to the consultation room so if I wanted to say no I was not faced with the person wishing to observe.  The consultation was again very thorough and the reasons for my referral were fully understood and the consultant made me feel that they really cared not only for the specific reason I was having examined that day, however that they really understood the position I was in.  After the initial consultation the Consultant and junior doctor both left the room to allow me to prepare for the examination, the care assistant then stayed with me and again asked my permission for the junior doctor to observe the examination which I was pleasantly surprised about as I had assumed as I had said yes to her attending the consult she would be there throughout so to have my permission asked for again was very thoughtful and respectful.  Following the examination the consultant was great, taking her time to advise me on her findings and going that bit further to show me other information online to help me visualise and bring to life for me the information she was advising me of.  I did thank her at the time for making the experience dignified and putting me at my ease as I was pretty nervous before the appointment.

I think the staff at Forth Valley do an outstanding job, seeing you as a whole person and not just the ailment or issue you are there to treated for.  Explanations are very thorough and care and time are taken to ensure you are comfortable and involved in the entire process.