"Superb care during my stay with appendicitis"

I wanted to write to say a big thank you to the staff who cared for me before, during and after my recent appendix operation at the RUH. There is a lot of criticism expressed about the NHS and I can only say from my experience it is unfounded. This was my first hospital stay. After watching Bath Rugby demolish Leicester 45-0 (that still sounds good) I realised my grumbling abdo pain was not going to be cured by a couple of pints as I'd hoped, so later that evening, my wife drove me to the RUH. I received the highest standard of care from the receptionist in A&E, a wonderful triage nurse Practitioner, the nurses in A&E and the staff on the Surgical Assessment Unit. The surgeon in particular and the team were superb. Even with my critical (my colleagues might even say overly so) professional eye I really cannot find fault with the way I was treated. Everyone introduced themselves and explained what was going to happen in simple terms. I was regularly offered pain relief and kept informed. Nothing was too much trouble. The wards were constantly being cleaned, infection control standards high and yes the food was fine. I really don't think I could have received better care had I gone privately. In fact I would have missed the camaraderie I saw: that between patients, between staff - teamwork and shared humour is what sustains the NHS, and finally between patients and staff: most didn't know I was a doctor and I felt I was always treated with respect and dignity, with a sprinkling of humour.