"Cardiac Catheter Unit"

I attended this unit for an angiogram and I do not mind confessing that the thought of the procedure scared me witless. The entire experience was first rate and I witnessed clinical excellence of the highest order. When I arrived at the unit I noticed that it appeared to have a very high standard of cleanliness - it looked spotless. In fact, on entering the ward I was asked to use the sanitising gel on my hands. The staff were superb in every way: caring, compassionate, courteous, competent and confident. The moment that I recognised the 5Cs I knew that I was in good hands. During the period of waiting I noticed that staff always washed their hands (or used sanitising gel) and wore a fresh pair of sterile gloves before undertaking a procedure with a patient that had the potential to cause the transmission of infection. I would say, from the behaviour that I observed, that infection control procedures are second to none. I will now comment on my experience in the ‘Cath Lab’, which I think is the term used by those in the field. On entering the Lab I noted a team of people who displayed the 5Cs that I describe above. At all steps in the procedure things were explained to me properly and I understood fully what was happening and why. This was a team of highly competent and skilled and professionals whose sole aim was the safety and well-being of the patient – one can’t ask for more. After the procedure the cup of tea and tuna mayonnaise sandwich was the best in the world! During recovery I was monitored regularly and looked after well. The explanation of wound care was very good and the emphasis of avoiding placing pressure on the wrist when getting up from a chair was a point that was very well made. Over recent years East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has had some troubles but as my experience shows there’s a lot of truly excellent staff of the highest integrity who day-in and day-out are doing first-rate work in caring for patients.