"Accident and Emergency attendance for a cat bite"

I can not tell you how wonderful and appreciated the staff at Airedale A&E are. They all do a fantastic job working together as a team for the benefit of us - the patients. The cleaners, the clerical staff, the nurses, the doctors, the ambulance staff, Security, everybody. We all know the strain that the NHS is under financially, budget cuts, staffing problems, deadlines, accountability, league tables and the like. However the staff come into work everyday not knowing what they are going to face and they do it because they care. I'm sure working in the private sector would be a lot less stressful and financially more beneficial, however, In my opinion, the NHS staff choose to come into A&E and they are not given the recognition they deserve. My Experience below is a true and honest account of my visit to A&E on the bank holiday weekend - 2 May 2015 after speaking with 111 telephone service for a bite on the hand from a neighbours psychotic cat! I expected (with it being a bank holiday) a long wait therefore I paid for 4 hours parking. On arrival at the department I found the staff to be exceptionally professional, efficient, thoughtful and friendly. I was assessed immediately by a nurse whom put me at ease and made me feel comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. They examined my wound and arranged for an X-ray, where I was the only patient waiting and staff treated me immediately. On returning to A&E and a 5 minute wait I was seen by the same nurse (maintaining continuity of care). They cleaned and dressed my wound, gave me antibiotics and arranged for me to re-attend on Monday. Back in reception to pay for the medication and arrange a time for my return, the reception staff were extremely helpful and thoughtful advising me that it would be OK to reuse my 4 hour parking ticket for the remaining 3 hours on the ticket and gave me a note to display in my windscreen on the Monday - yes I really was only on site for 50 minutes! I duly came back on Monday morning when the department was busier however the staff were still friendly, professional, efficient and polite even if some of the patients were not! I had a short wait to see a doctor whom examined my hand again, gave me the OK said to continue with antibiotics and attend my GP is necessary - again only on site for 50 minutes! Thank you for my care and treatment. I do thank you for it. I can not speak too highly of our National Health Service, it is unique and special, we are privileged to receive free medical treatment and this service needs to be protected and not abused. The staff are the best in the world lets honour that.