"Emergency Surgery at Mid Staffs: I literally owe them my life"

After suffering severe abdominal pain, the NHS Direct service booked me in to the out of hours GP clinic. From there I was swiftly transferred to the Surgical Assessment Unit. Despite it being a Sunday afternoon, I had several tests and examination and was diagnosed with a blocked digestive system. The following morning I went into surgery and the surgical team rectified an abscess on my small bowel. I then recuperated at Stafford Hospital until Friday when I was discharged. I cannot praise highly enough the professionalism and care of everybody who took care of me in the hospital. I literally owe them my life.