"Compassionate and professional under incredible…"

After being admitted for emergency back surgery, it was a very scary and stressful time - made more challenging by the additional pressures brought on by the pandemic, including not being able to have anyone with me. The staff were incredible from start to finish (including A&E and the ambulance paramedics). Not only did they stop my excruciating pain, they did so with care and complete professionalism. I felt in such safe hands throughout and could not be more grateful to our amazing NHS.

One *very* small point, in case it's helpful - it would have been amazing to have one consistent person assigned to me to help me navigate what was happening. Although everyone I interacted with was amazing, a lot happened in a very short period of time (from A&E to major op was about 48hrs), which was very overwhelming - particularly as I was in a lot of pain / on a lot of medication and wasn't able to have someone with me. Having a familiar face check in at points in the process (eg. to answer / direct me to answers to the odd question) would have been really amazing. Even if not the _same_ face, someone who had a consistent narrative of all key events (not just treatment) would have been super helpful.