"Exemplary care"

I was admitted to the N&N, through A & E, on 21 May 2022.

Apart from one night at home, I was in the hospital for 11 days.

As I would have expected, I saw a great number of medical staff: ambulance paramedics, doctors, consultants, radiographers, nurses, health care assistants, porters, catering staff.

Every one of them, without fail, offered exemplary care – with their own area of expertise and practice. Each was kind, patient and included me in all their decisions around investigations and treatment, ensuring that I understood everything.

Every practitioner did what they said they would do, and I never felt failed in any sense.

I rather lost my appetite, but the catering staff were always helpful in finding gluten-free food for me as I have Coeliac Disease and so have to be rather specific in what I can eat.

I didn’t see many of the doctors more than once, but the communication between them was full and complete.

I know the hospital and staff are under huge pressure, but I never felt this impacted on my care. Furthermore, there was a lot of challenging behaviour on the ward owing to some patients having dementia on top of their particular illness. The staff were unfailingly patient and kind with those patients.

I fully recovered – and can only be grateful to all the staff who helped me get there.