"My Journey Through Lewisham Hospital"

We arrived late evening 25th October, explained to the receptionist that I am a Cancer patient under care and I believed I had a chest infection.

Don’t know how but we were hardly settled in the waiting room before we were called in to the Triage Nurse. She was amazing, listened to my symptoms, did tests and agreed with me. I am also worried about my Kidneys and asked her to check those too.

The nurse phoned through for an isolated bay for me in the A&E ward, none were available so she assured us that we would stay in her room until a bay was available. As it was she found a bay on the resuscitation ward and took me there until a bay in the A&E ward was available.

3 nurses attended to me, bloods were taken, I was canulated and ECG completed in the blink of an eye. So incredibly efficient

Bay 3 in the A&E ward became available, and a wonderful nurse looked after me. I let her know the triage nurse had recommended a chest x-ray, which then happened within ½ an hour. Results back we now know I have a chest infection with pneumonia (and elevated Creatinine).

I could feel my temperature spiking, the nurse checked and almost immediately Paracetamol was being pumped in to me.

A&E beds are a tad on the hard side, as I was going to be there a while, until a space could be found on the ward, the nurse arranged for a hospital bed to be brought so I would be more comfortable.

Up to Chestnut ward. I don’t remember much about Chestnut, my infection was now at its height, other than a feeling of being extremely well looked after and very very safe. I apologise to all the Doctors and Nurses, you looked after me fantastically and I can’t remember your names, I am so sorry.

Finally, feeling much better I was moved to Alder ward where, again, the care was like nothing I have experienced before. I would like to especially thank the 2 nurse managers, their level of care, professionalism and humour pervades the whole ward making it just so special.

I had some dark moments in Alder and I thank everyone who helped me through them

I would also like to mention the cleaning team, the ward was immaculate as were the toilets, most of the time

I will not say anything about catering but that really needs a rethink.

I could go on but….

Let me just say that the care I received and that I saw being given to my fellow patients was just truly amazing. I hope I never need A&E again, but if I do it is Lewisham Hospital every time