"Excellent Day Care center - wonderful staff!"

Anything else?

I was recently admitted for day surgery at St Albans. It was the first time I had been to this Hospital for an operation and my only experience to compare with was a recent op at a private Spire hospital in Bushey Watford. May I just say that the service provided at St Albans was excellent! The nurses especially! There was certainly a good moral and nice atmosphere there. Also the right amount of staff to see to patients needs. Far better then my past experience at the private hospital-surprisingly the only benefit at Spire was my own room but even that was not anything to write home about. When I arrived for my day surgery I was taken within 5 minutes to my bed. I thought it would be a bit daunting on a ward with other people but it did not feel that way at all. Men & women completely separate across the ward and not in full view (women one side and men on the other with nurse desks in the middle creating privacy) each area with a bed was very clean and comfortable for the short time spent there, and plenty of privacy with curtains pulled. I had a student nurse that came to attend me, she went over the paperwork then took my blood pressure and other checks. She was watched by the head nurse on duty. The anethestist came to see me and asked about any alleges etc, then the consultant visited and he said I was second on the list for surgery. Within the next half hour I was helped by the student nurse to get ready and onto the bed. All comfortable and no dignity lost I was then pushed into the theatre after the friendly anethestist chatted away. That's all I remember! Next thing I woke up to find I was in recovery with a friendly recovery nurse watching over me and asking me if I was in any pain. At that time I was in some pain so a little morphin was given to help. When fully awake I was rolled back to my place on the ward. The student nurse greeted me back and asked if I was comfortable enough, and did I need anything? She asked if I was ready to eat and then went and came back with a nice cup of tea & toast. It was delicious and much needed. Once I had rested and I was able to go to the bathroom, I was then discharged with some advise, some medication, and changes for dressings. Then I was walked back slowly to the seating area ready to be picked up to go home. Well enough said my experience at St Albans under the care of NHS was a very good experience. So If anyone is unsure I can tell you that you are in good hands there!