"Positive experience at RAH Dermatology Outpatient"

After decades of suffering and countless GP trips about the same problem over the same time period, I was finally referred to Dermatology after discussing this at a routine rheumatology appointment.  First of all, I'd like to say I'm so grateful to Rheumatology (I can't for the life of me remember the doctor who was kind enough to do this for me, was a female under Dr Baxter's clinic) for being good enough to make a referral that my GP should probably have made decades ago. I really am so grateful.

Anyway, my appointment for Dermatology finally came round, and to say I was anxious is putting it mildly.  Not only was I embarrassed to discuss my skin problems, I was worried that it would be a wasted appointment because I really had just about lost all hope of anyone ever being able to help me.

Enter Dr Stafford, who was working on Dr Burfield's clinic. Not only did she apologise for the long wait for my appointment (which let's face it, given the recent problems with the NHS, was hardly within their control) she was so kind and had the loveliest manner which served to immediately put me at ease.  She made what was a very daunting appointment much less so just by her kind and patient nature. 

She took the time to listen to my 'moans' and I came away with renewed hope that a chronic problem (though possibly not curable and certainly not instantly so) could finally possibly be eased and with a clear and concise plan for potential future management and what the next steps would be in my treatment.  I really hope I have her name right, I asked on the way out of the appointment but with a brain like a sieve, it had practically instantly left my mind.  

I know this may seem like a potentially trivial appointment/experience to feedback on, but I can't express how relieved I feel to finally have a bit of hope for something which has affected my life in such a massive way for so long!  I feel everyone is always so quick to knock the services when they don't quite meet the standards expected, but never so quick to pass on credit where it's due! I really hope Dr Stafford gets the recognition she deserves for a job well done and that she gets to hear how truly grateful I am! :-)