"Season Ticket"

For the past ten years I have been a regular visitor to this hospital to see my mother and father during treatment - thus the title of my review. At no time has the treatment and care provided been less than excellent - this is based on probably about 150 visits. Two examples illustrate what I mean. My father died in August 2011 at the hospital. The nurse 'phoned' me at 11.00pm to tell me that my father was close to death. I live an hour away from the hospital and arrived shortly after midnight. The nurse was holding my dad's hand even though he was in a coma. I asked how long they had been there. "Since I 'phoned you", was the reply! Outstanding! On Saturday (21/3) my mother was admitted yet again. She 'phoned to let me know she was being taken in for assessment and was waiting for an ambulance. I arrived at the hospital two hours later - about 10 pm - and went straight to the assessment unit expecting to find her there. There was no 'episode' for her so I was heading for A&E to see if they had any record. (In actual fact, my mother was by now on her way in the ambulance) . A member of staff who turned out to be a bed manager asked if they could help as I was probably looking lost. They took me to A&E then sat me down in a room whilst they chased up my mother's whereabouts. Yet another example of the efforts staff make on our behalf. People (and the media) who want to knock the NHS ought to try living in another country and try getting free care at source. My thanks to all at Royal Blackburn.